Aiding the Design of Innovative and Sustainable Food Packaging: Integrating Techno-Environmental and Circular Economy Criteria

Reducing food waste and increasing resource efficiency have become worldwide targets as highlighted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 – Responsible consumption and production. Food packaging, in particular plastics-based, is a key component of food-related waste: packaging increases the amount of total waste, but also reduces potential food waste by protecting food products and prolonging their shelf life. Therefore, it is important that packaging is designed as to satisfy both technical and environmental criteria. Hence, this paper seeks to develop a decision-support framework and key metrics to aid development and selection of new innovative food packaging within a circular economy context. A set of indicators is proposed, integrating techno-environmental and circular economy criteria to help designers as well as food and packaging manufacturers develop more sustainable products. The methodology is illustrated through a prototype new plastic packaging developed as part of this project, considering its use for two types of product – raspberries and meat – as illustrative examples.