Packaging is a leading factor determining the total environmental effect of food products. This study investigated consumers’ awareness, behavior and expectations in relation to the environmental sustainability aspects of food packaging. Using an online survey, responses from 646 participants were collected. The effect of socio-demographic characteristics on all variable responses was explored by ANOVA models and t-tests. Participants were segmented according to a visual approach based on a principal component analysis applied on the consumers’ behavioral data. Gender, age, and education level affected consumer awareness, behavior and expectations differently. Four groups of consumers were distinguished on the grounds of their behavior in relation to food packaging: (1) More sustainable—packaging-role-oriented; (2) More sustainable—packaging minimizers; (3) Less sustainable; and (4) Medium sustainable. The most sustainable groups were mainly composed of females, while less sustainable consumers were mainly the youngest. The four groups differed in terms of expectations for sustainability-related information that can be communicated through food labels. In conclusion, this work provided new knowledge that is useful to understand the factors that influence consumer behavior and to promote the consumers’ packaging-related sustainability choices through food packaging.

With average food demand on the rise and increasing pressure on sustainability, it is essential to outline the cultural framework in which food systems are evolving, with the goal of studying solutions that target concrete actions and achieve communicable and more transparent results for the market and consumers. The objective was to analyze indicators, methods, and good practices, highlighting their positive aspects, criticalities, and possible gaps, for monitoring the impact the food system has on the environment, economy, and society from a circular economy perspective. A review of scientific literature was conducted to define the framework for implementing a circular economy in the food sector. The nations most involved in circular economy research with a focus on the food system were mapped, and circular strategies and indicators were classified according to the three different scales of implementation to which they apply: micro, meso, and macro. The literature review showed that most indicators focus on material flows and end-of-life strategies, without focusing on nutrient circularity in food systems and the circular bio-economy. This work suggests a potential and original framework for analyzing food and agriculture systems that can provide a holistic assessment of the impacts, actions, and outcomes achieved by these systems.