A review of packaging‐related studies in the context of household food waste: Drivers, solutions and avenues for future research

Chan, Ruby Bo Yiu

doi:10.1002/pts.2611

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(808 reference statements)

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“…Packaging contributes to decreasing FLW and the corresponding negative impact that producing and distributing uneaten or inedible food has on our environment and economy. FLW reduction is first a matter of packaging functionality (e.g., barrier properties) that maintain a modified atmosphere suitable for food preservation (e.g., avoid the remoistening of a crispy, dry product), 2 but also a matter of ease of use (e.g., individual‐serving portions, the packaging should be easy to open, to empty) 38 . Using packaging of individual serving sizes reduces the risk that leftovers from a larger family‐size package are incorrectly stored after the first use and finally never consumed and discarded 37,39 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…properties) that maintain a modified atmosphere suitable for food preservation (e.g., avoid the remoistening of a crispy, dry product), 2 but also a matter of ease of use (e.g., individual-serving portions, the packaging should be easy to open, to empty). 38 Using packaging of individual serving sizes reduces the risk that leftovers from a larger family-size package are incorrectly stored after the first use and finally never consumed and discarded. 37,39 However, individual-serving packaging also uses more material proportionally to pack the same quantity of food and thus has a higher environmental impact than larger packages.…”

Section: Analysis Of the Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

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Scoring methodology for comparing the environmental performance of food packaging

et al. 2023

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The objective of this work was to propose an environmental scoring tool for food packaging based on the assessment of three key pillars of packaging sustainability: Materials, Functionality and Post-Usage fate. A participatory process involving relevant food-packaging experts and end users was applied to define the relevant criteria for each pillar. Each criterion was translated into a question for users, and the answers are converted into a score between 0 (worst option) and 1 (best option) per pillar. For the Materials pillar, two scores were computed from a streamlined calculation of resource (CEENE) and carbon footprints (IPCC) while for the Functionality and Post-Usage pillars, scores were computed from Yes/No answers provided by the users. A fourth pillar considers the potential risk of long-term environmental pollution. Then, the packaging options for the same food are ranked according to the Borda voting rule, considering the individual rankings obtained for the various pillars.The proposed methodology was applied to three commercial (milk and sugar) and non-commercial (strawberry) packaging case studies. The obtained ranking is discussed with respect to current knowledge in the field. The provided methodology is easy to understand, science based, and combines quantitative and qualitative assessments. The developed tool could be handled by non-experts in environmental sciences such as food manufacturers, packaging converters and policy makers. The resulting indicators provide answers to user concerns regarding the environmental impacts of food packaging and guide their choice of the most sustainable option. The proposed scoring method considers the functionality of the packaging with respect to preserving food and reducing food waste, which is rarely considered in packaging environmental assessments.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analysis Of the Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Scoring methodology for comparing the environmental performance of food packaging

et al. 2023

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“…In the selected literature reviews can be found some reviews on food waste, such as the study published by Chan [56], which looks into packaging-related studies in the context of household food waste, or another of his studies [51], which explores the different packaging solutions available to address household food waste.…”

Section: Background Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Unpacking Behaviours: A Literature Study and Research Agenda on Consumer Behaviour in Packaging‐Free Systems

Jiménez Romanillos,

Williams,

Wever

2024

Packag Technol Sci

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In an era where food packaging plays a dual role in both reducing food waste and contributing to global packaging waste, this study presents an analysis of packaging‐free systems. As governments and organizations attempt to address the environmental impact of single‐use packaging, packaging‐free alternatives have emerged as a promising solution. However, there is a need for a comprehensive assessment of environmental sustainability and its alignment with consumer behaviours and preferences in this growing type of grocery system. Considering this need, this study employs an integrative literature review process, selecting 51 research articles. This selection was classified into three principal areas: the characteristics of packaging‐free services, the dynamics of consumer behaviour and patterns from a household perspective. This review evaluates the effectiveness of packaging‐free systems, exploring the factors that drive consumer adoption, the obstacles to transitioning and the relevance of theoretical frameworks like the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and practice theory (PT) in understanding and assessing the sustainability of these alternatives. The result of this study is the identification of significant research gaps and opportunities, leading to a comprehensive research agenda. This agenda emphasizes the need for a more refined understanding of consumer classifications that extend beyond standard demographic metrics, delving into aspects like household structures, dietary preferences and regional variations. The study highlights the limited scope of existing literature by advocating for a holistic grocery analysis that blends packaging‐free and conventional shopping practices to understand more realistic grocery scenarios, as not all products are available in packaging‐free alternatives. It also underscores the importance of integrating environmental assessments with consumer behaviour studies to see the sustainability of the systems beyond reusable containers. Additionally, this research sheds light on the relatively unexplored area of online packaging‐free services, questioning the sustainable implication of incorporating online alternatives in grocery practices, and suggests a broader application of theoretical frameworks, including activity theory (AT) as a new perspective to achieve a new understanding of these systems. Lastly, contributing to the overall understanding of packaging‐free systems, the study concludes with a SWOT analysis that briefly identifies strengths in environmental sustainability and consumer awareness, balanced against weaknesses like data gaps and complex consumer decision‐making processes.

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“…Brennan et al (2021) performs its systematic review based on the discussion of academic and industrial food waste, focusing on packaging technologies as a way to promote the reduction of food waste in consumers' homes. In a similar study on packaging, Chan (2021) considers mapping functions of packaging across different food categories to identify packaging-related food waste drivers; as a result, the author suggests a greater variety of packaging sizes, labels and clearer dates to help reduce waste.…”

Section: Consumer Behaviour In Relation To Food Wastementioning

confidence: 99%

Consumer behaviour in relation to food waste: a systematic literature review

Santos

Silveira

Costa

et al. 2022

BFJ

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PurposeThe purpose of this systematic literature review (SLR) is to analyse which consumer behaviours are more evident in relation to food waste, in addition to seeking to identify which types of food are most wasted in homes and the methods which have been used by studies for such particularities. In this paper, it was possible to identify the universe of consumer characteristics covering the main contributions to the development of this theme with different points of view.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this goal, the authors performed a SLR according to well-established guidelines set. The authors used tools to partially support the process, which relies on a four-member research team.FindingsThe authors report on 49 primary studies that deal the lack of planning, excessive purchases and the non-reuse of food leftovers by the consumer as the characteristics most evidenced as a consequence of food waste. Furthermore, fruits, vegetables and bread are the most wasted food. Regarding the most used research methods, some studies in this SLR use the qualitative method, but mostly food waste is analysed using the quantitative method.Originality/valueThis SLR is different because it seeks to group different aspects of food waste, mapping not only the consumer’s behavioural characteristics but also seeking to identify the most wasted food. The research contributed to finding theoretical gaps on the subject in favour of reducing waste, based on the findings that demonstrate causing food waste.

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A review of packaging‐related studies in the context of household food waste: Drivers, solutions and avenues for future research

Cited by 12 publications

References 76 publications

Scoring methodology for comparing the environmental performance of food packaging

Scoring methodology for comparing the environmental performance of food packaging

Unpacking Behaviours: A Literature Study and Research Agenda on Consumer Behaviour in Packaging‐Free Systems

Consumer behaviour in relation to food waste: a systematic literature review

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