version francaise sur https://www.pour-nourrir-demain.fr/quest-ce-que-le-graal-de-lemballage-durable
Packaging has become a social issue, while reflecting the DNA of the brand. To rebuild consumer trust in food products, packaging must align with the product. This is even more true for products resulting from sustainable development, packaging must also be sustainable.
the industry can follow 3 major directions to choose packaging that minimizes the impact on the environment and reduces waste:
1. Biodegradable packaging with a definition of degradation way:
a. Composting at home or industrial (degradation by microorganisms in an aerobic environment (with air)
b. Methanation: degradation by microorganisms in anaerobic environment (without air)
c. Degradable in the marine environment (conditions and standards under development)
d. Degradable in nature (wide range of conditions)
2.Easily recyclable and allowing use of recycled packaging (industrial)
3.Reusable packaging (industrially or in our household)
The source of packaging can also come from #renewable or #fossil raw material (for example: from sugar cane or petrol). If the material is bio-based, it will also require certifications attesting a sustainable source (eg FSC or PEFC for paper) - and an understanding of the raw material production impact on the humans vital needs (water-air-food) - the best would be a source coming from waste ( used waste water- agricultural waste etc.).That's a lot of possibilities:
So how do you make the right choice for humans and the planet? This is the issue of sustainable development applied to packaging.
The problem is complex because most recyclable packaging, apart from paper fibers, are not biodegradable and vice versa.
In addition to the inherent questions related to the needs of the product itself (protection, barriers, shelf life etc.), what are the good questions to answer:
Firstly, do I operate in the B to B or the B to C ? reusable packaging can be a solution for the B to B because cleaning will be controlled and therefore limit the risk of contamination.
Secondly, where my products are consumed and how the packaging is disposed ? what are the main infrastructures present for the waste management - for ex:
1. Converting waste into energy
2. Recycling (plastic paper)
3. Biodegradation (composting, anaerobic digestion, marine degradation)
4. Nothing is planned in the country
The Grail of sustainable packaging would be a bio based packaging , with barrier properties , biodegradable (household compost and biodegradable in nature and the marine environment) and recyclable ...
The advances on the properties of cellulose packaging should be closely monitored .... Several techniques exist for paper in pilot or commercial phase:
1. the water coating
2. wet lamination of MFC microfibrils of cellulose
3. Chromatogeny
But there is still the issue of seal integrity for these packaging, a solution could also be done by coating.
The Grail is not far but the quest is not over ...