Disposable food packaging has come a long way since its beginning, going through stages of development to suit the needs of businesses and consumers all over the world. But there is one issue that is having the biggest impact on the changes being made to disposable food packaging supplies, and that’s the environment.
In this article, we will explore the history and evolution of this universal form of packaging, how it has developed over time, and how it’s changing for the better.
The Beginning: Early disposable food packaging
The first forms of food packaging can be traced back to the late 19th century when tin cans and glass bottles were first used to package food products. These early forms of packaging were designed to preserve food for long periods of time and were primarily used for items such as canned fruits and vegetables, and bottled beverages – some of which are still used in supermarkets today.
The Rise of Plastic Packaging
In the mid-20th century, plastic packaging began to gain popularity as a means of packaging food products. Plastic had several advantages over traditional materials such as tin and glass, including lower cost, greater flexibility, and the ability to be shaped into a variety of forms.
As a result, plastic packaging quickly became the preferred choice for manufacturers and consumers alike. However, the impact that plastic has had on the planet since its emergence has been huge – we will explore this in more detail below.
The Emergence of Single-use Packaging
With the rise of plastic packaging came the emergence of single-use packaging. These were packaging materials that were designed to be used once and then discarded. Examples include plastic bags, plastic wraps, and plastic containers.
Single-use packaging was seen as a convenient and cost-effective way to package food products, and it quickly became the norm in the food industry. This type of plastic was used as it could protect food from becoming contaminated and keep it safe when being transported.
The Environmental Impact of Disposable Food Packaging
As food packaging became more prevalent, concerns about its environmental impact began to surface. Single-use packaging, in particular, was criticized for its contribution to plastic pollution, as well as its role in greenhouse gas emissions.
As well as this, it’s becoming more common to find plastic polluting the ocean, harming the creatures that it’s home to. Because of this, a growing movement began to reduce the use of food packaging and to find more sustainable alternatives that do not harm the environment or put a strain on non-renewable resources.
The Future of Disposable Food Packaging
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the environmental impact of food packaging. This has led to a renewed focus on finding more sustainable alternatives, such as bioplastics and compostable materials.
Additionally, many companies have begun to implement recycling and composting programs in an effort to reduce the amount of packaging waste that ends up in landfills. There is a range of options becoming available to businesses to help them reduce the impact they’re having on the planet that they will be able to take advantage of in the near future.