6 myths about food packaging

1. Biodegradable food packaging is always sustainable

The term “biodegradable” is one of the most misunderstood in packaging. Many people assume that anything labeled this way is automatically harmless for the environment. In reality, biodegradable only means that a material can break down over time — but it does not indicate how long this takes or under what conditions it happens.

As a result, products marketed as biodegradable may still persist in the environment for long periods if conditions are not suitable for decomposition. This is especially relevant for many bioplastics, which do not break down effectively in everyday conditions such as soil or water.

Importantly, each specific material has its own required conditions for degradation, and these need to be verified in practice. In many cases, real-world environments (e.g., landfills, open environment, mixed waste systems) do not meet these conditions, meaning the material may not degrade as expected.

What you can do:

• Focus less on “biodegradable” packaging and more on reducing single-use and choosing reusable alternatives.
• If you do buy biodegradable packaging, check whether the conditions required for its proper degradation can actually be met in your local system.

2. If it’s recyclable, the problem is solved

Recyclability does not mean that packaging will actually be recycled in practice. This is especially true for food packaging.

Many food packages are contaminated with food residues, which makes them unsuitable for recycling or requires intensive cleaning. As a result, a significant share is rejected during sorting and redirected to incineration or landfill.

In addition, a large portion of food packaging is made from multi-layer or mixed materials (e.g., plastic + paper + coatings), which are technically difficult or impossible to recycle at scale. Even when recycling works, it usually involves material loss and downcycling, meaning the material cannot be reused indefinitely for the same purpose.

Even within advanced systems, only around 40% of plastic packaging waste is recycled, meaning a substantial share still does not return into material cycles.

What you can do:

• Focus on reducing and reusing first
• Choose reusable containers, cups, and packaging systems
• Avoid single-use, multi-material packaging
• Treat recycling as a last step, not the main solution

3. Paper packaging is better than plastic

Paper packaging is often seen as the more environmentally friendly option, but scientific evidence shows that it also has a significant environmental footprint.

Studies on the water footprint of paper production estimate that producing paper can require 300–2600 m³ of water per tonne, depending on raw materials and production conditions.

Paper manufacturing is also resource- and energy-intensive, involving large volumes of water in processing and generating wastewater and emissions during pulping and bleaching. In addition, paper packaging relies on wood-based raw materials, contributing to land use and pressure on forest resources.

At the same time, most paper food packaging is not pure paper — it often includes plastic coatings or chemical treatments to improve durability, which reduces recyclability.

What you can do:

• reduce single-use packaging
• choose reusable packaging options
• avoid plastic-coated paper packaging where possible

4. Food packaging does not affect your health

More than 3,600 chemicals used in food packaging have been detected in the human body, including at least 76 classified as hazardous.

Food packaging can release substances such as bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS, and mineral oils into food, especially when it is heated, fatty, or stored for longer periods. These chemicals are associated with hormonal disruption and other health risks.

Plastic packaging can also break down into microplastics, which are now found in food, water, and human tissues.

What you can do:

• avoid heating food in plastic packaging
• use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel for food and drinks

5. Takeaway and delivery cannot work without single-use packaging

Takeaway and delivery are currently built around single-use packaging, but they do not depend on it. Reusable systems are already being tested and implemented in real-life conditions.

Such systems require organization — including return points, logistics, and cleaning infrastructure — but they are already functioning in different food service contexts. Their performance depends on system design and user participation, not on the type of material itself.

The key difference is that single-use packaging generates waste with every order, while reusable systems reduce waste over time by keeping materials in circulation.

What you can do:

• choose restaurants that offer reusable container options
• return containers where systems are available
• support solutions that reduce reliance on single-use packaging

6. Reusable packaging is more expensive for consumers

Reusable packaging is often perceived as more expensive because it may require an initial deposit or purchase. However, this does not reflect the real cost over time.

In most reuse systems, the deposit is fully refundable, meaning the consumer does not pay more if the packaging is returned. In addition, one reusable container can replace dozens of single-use items, reducing the need for repeated purchases.

Single-use packaging is often included in the price of food, making it appear “free,” while its cost is actually embedded in every purchase. Over time, this leads to higher overall spending compared to reuse systems.

This means that reusable packaging is not inherently more expensive — the cost depends on how often and how it is used.

What you can do:

• use reusable containers regularly
• return deposit packaging to avoid extra charges
• choose systems where reuse is integrated into the service

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Extra resources:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20181212STO21610/plastic-waste-and-recycling-in-the-eu-facts-and-figures

https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/the-green-and-blue-water-footprint-of-paper-products-methodologic/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032122005950

https://interreg-baltic.eu/project-posts/changeknow/how-anyksciai-turned-reusable-takeaway-food-containers-into-a-local-success

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