Food packaging can be found everywhere - be it in the supermarket, in the butcher's shop or at the bakery. Depending on their intended use, they have to meet different requirements.

However, from the cup for the popular "coffee to go" to the canned food, all are equally designed to package food in such a way that it is well protected from environmental influences and can be transported without any problems.

All serve the purpose of keeping food in a fresh and edible condition for the consumer.

But that is not the only requirement that food packaging has to meet these days: Their sustainable production is also required.

After all, the more sustainable a package is, the more it benefits manufacturers as well as consumers - or in short: the entire population.

After all, sustainability means climate protection - and in the long run, that affects each and every one of us.

For us as specialists in packaging, the developments in this area are of great interest! In this article, we have therefore compiled all the important information for you about sustainable packaging in the new food market.

Why is sustainable food packaging in such demand?

The reasons for the high demand are many and can be broken down into the following points:

1. Increased awareness of sustainability among consumers.
2. Manufacturers and sellers value sustainable packaging because food packaging already pollutes the environment.
3. The awareness of resource scarcity, contributes to the fact that more emphasis is placed on resource-saving materials and production.
4. Legal regulations lay down fixed guidelines to which every manufacturer must adhere.
5. Manufacturers and sellers should switch to environmentally friendly packaging if they want to continue to have a positive carbon footprint in their business.

So there are numerous reasons to attach importance to sustainability when it comes to food packaging and, above all, to follow the new legal guidelines.

It is advisable to pay attention today to what will be expected of food packaging in the future. This has the advantage that the changeover from today's approved packaging to future packaging will not be too difficult.

In addition to the new Regulation, which came into force on October 10, 2022, it applies until until the year 2030 further measures need to be implemented with regard to food packaging.

Up to date: This food packaging is a boon for consumers and the environment

Before we get to the changes in the new food packaging regulation, let's first look at which food packaging is an asset to consumers and the environment. These play an important role in the context of the new regulations.

Because today and in the future, these packaging materials are considered particularly environmentally friendly:

• Paper, corrugated board and cardboard made from wood fibers or a mixture of wood and grass fibers, e.g. grass paper and grass boxboard
• Plastic made from plant starch, e.g. corn or potato starch
• Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET)

They have the following positive characteristics:

• There is less waste to dispose of, which pollutes the environment.
• Environmentally conscious consumers feel more comfortable purchasing products in sustainable packaging.
• The new food packaging meets very high standards, thereby ensuring compliance with important aspects that impact sustainability.
• Packaging made of wood and grass fibers are versatile and particularly tear-resistant.
• Plant starch can be processed like conventional plastic.
• The production of rPET consumes less energy than virgin PET and produces fewer CO2 emissions.
• Wood and grass fibers and plant starch are natural, renewable raw materials. Grass in particular grows regionally and very quickly.

Food packaging types made of the aforementioned materials are also recyclable and can be recycled accordingly.

What's more, plant starch is compostable - in industrial facilities or even on home compost. That depends on the certification.

The free formats have so far been considered very sustainable, especially for packaging for shipping, due to their accuracy of fit in terms of size.

This trend is now also extending to food packaging. Because even in food packaging, less packaging can mean more environmental protection and sustainability.

Because the basic rule is: superfluous packaging material that is not absolutely needed to adequately package a product is pure waste of raw materials and other resources.

Economical and conscious use of packaging materials is an indispensable measure in any industry that requires packaging, in order to participate in the protection of our environment. Free formats make exactly this possible without a food product losing quality or coming to harm through their use.

So what measures apply in the future under the new regulation to reinforce this positive contribution?

The new EU regulation: These changes await the food market

The new EU regulation was adopted as part of the "Green Deal" and includes framework conditions to be implemented by 2030 - and the associated targets are very ambitious.

One example is waste prevention: By 2030, the amount of waste that falls on each individual consumer is to be reduced by 50 percent.

To make this implementation possible, it was decided that fewer non-recyclable materials may be used in the production of food packaging. In addition, every food packaging must contain at least a proportion of recycled materials. Even if this packaging is plastic packaging.

The idea behind this regulation is clear: if waste cannot be avoided, it should at least be recyclable.

To ensure that this new regulation is actually followed, food packaging must in future undergo a safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Only through this assessment is it possible to obtain a certificate allowing the use of the new "food packaging".

In addition, from October 2024, plastic waste will be controlled: both its collection and pre-processing must be checked by an independent third party. Only through this inspection can the necessary certificate be obtained that permits the further processing of these materials.

Packaging that does not receive approval as food packaging may no longer be put into circulation or used for packaging.

The changes are extensive, so it is already advisable to rely on food packaging that meets the requirements of the new food regulation.

bio-based	recyclable	Biodegradable
Bio-based food packaging is in vogue.	Food packaging of today is recyclable and can be reprocessed.	The trend of new food packaging is moving more and more in the direction of being biodegradable.

Why are the new EU regulations so demanding?

The new EU regulations pursue this high standard for the sustainability of food packaging because the real consequences of environmental pollution from waste cannot be denied. In addition, a conscious use of scarce resources is to be created.

In this way, the EU wants to ensure better waste management for the future in the sense of a circular economy and thus contribute to the protection of the environment and the climate at the same time.

Would you like to find out more about the new "food packaging" than can be found in our blog? Then we look forward to hearing from you.

Conclusion: New "food packaging" - more sustainability

When it comes to food packaging, there is a clear trend: The use of environmentally friendly materials is becoming more and more important.

In addition, the new EU regulation for food packaging has in mind that production processes must be carried out with significantly fewer new materials and more recyclable ones instead.

The ambitious goal of the new regulation is to halve the amount of waste generated annually by food packaging per person. Strict controls and certifications will ensure implementation.

The new measures not only result in a significant saving of raw materials, but also have a strong impact on the development of pollutants and the CO2 content. All in all, this new concept is working significantly towards ensuring that food packaging can be used without consequences for the environment.

FAQ

Question: Is free-form food packaging particularly sustainable?
Answer: Yes, because it not only saves on materials for production. There is also much less waste, which is then recycled and reprocessed.

Question: To what extent does the new food packaging have an impact on the climate?
Answer: On the one hand, the new packaging is particularly sustainable because far fewer materials have to be used for production. On the other hand, resources are saved, such as water and petroleum during production.

Question: Are the new food packages more expensive than their predecessors?
Answer: No, which is partly due to the fact that fewer materials are needed in the production of these packages.