Environmental footprint of food packaging and how it affects climate change

Introduction

Every coffee cup grabbed, every takeaway bag handed over, highlights the environmental toll of food packaging. From production to disposal, packaging consumes resources, pollutes ecosystems, and drives climate change. Single-use plastics dominate the scene, but most of them end up in landfills or nature, releasing greenhouse gases and lingering for centuries.

Plastic and climate change

Food packaging fuels climate change. The production of packaging materials, particularly plastics, involves extracting and processing fossil fuels, which release large amounts of greenhouse gases. Plastics made from new, non-recycled raw materials are a major contributor. In 2019, the production and disposal of plastics resulted in approximately 1.8 billion metric tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions, accounting for about 3.3% of global emissions and are nearly double those from the shipping industry.

Disposal exacerbates the issue. Landfilled plastics emit methane as they degrade, while incineration releases CO₂ and toxic pollutants. Mismanaged waste, including open burning, further adds to emissions.

Recycling? It’s limited—only 9% of all plastics ever made have been recycled.

Plastic and marine ecosystems

Plastics’ impact extends beyond emissions. Microplastics, resulting from the breakdown of disposed materials, accumulate in ecosystems, disrupting food chains and affecting biodiversity. Their persistence in the environment underscores the urgent need for alternatives.

Each year, millions of tons of plastic waste make their way into our oceans, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Sea birds, fish, and marine mammals frequently mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion that can block digestive systems or cause toxic effects. Many marine creatures also become entangled in discarded plastic, restricting their movement and often resulting in injury or death.

The OECD reports that around 22% of all plastic waste ends up in the environment, with a significant portion polluting the oceans and endangering marine life. Microplastics from food, water, and packaging also make their way into our bodies, accumulating in organs such as the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys.

Reducing reliance on single-use plastics and transitioning to sustainable practices, such as adopting reusable or recyclable materials, is essential to mitigating these climate and environmental impacts.

Paper lifecycle

Alternatives aren’t guilt-free either. Paper packaging often leads to deforestation, and glass and metal need huge amounts of energy to produce and transport.

While paper packaging is often considered an eco-friendly alternative, its production and disposal have significant environmental impacts. The pulp and paper industry accounts for approximately 13–15% of global wood consumption and utilizes between 33–40% of all industrial wood traded worldwide.This high demand contributes to deforestation, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like Indonesia and the Greater Mekong.

Moreover, paper packaging often involves coatings with plastic or wax to enhance durability and resistance to moisture. These coatings complicate the recycling process, as separating the materials is challenging, leading to increased waste and environmental strain.

The lifecycle of a single-use coffee cup

It begins with raw materials—trees for paper and fossil fuels for the plastic lining. The paper is processed in factories, often using large amounts of water and energy, while the plastic lining is derived from refined crude oil or natural gas. These materials are combined to create the cups, which are then transported worldwide, adding fuel emissions.

Once used, usually for just a few minutes, the cups are often discarded. Most cannot be recycled because the plastic lining is bonded to the paper, making separation difficult. As a result, billions of cups end up in landfills or as litter every year, where they contribute to pollution and take years to decompose. Incineration releases greenhouse gases, while improper disposal can harm wildlife and ecosystems.

Choosing reusable cups or fully recyclable alternatives can significantly reduce this environmental burden, turning daily coffee habits into sustainable practices.

More facts:

In 2021, each European generated an average of 190 kg of packaging waste. If current trends continue, this amount is expected to increase by almost 20% by 2030.

In the European Union, paper and cardboard constitute the largest share of packaging waste, amounting to 34 million tonnes in 2022, which is 40.8% of the total packaging waste generated.

Studies have documented that approximately 820 marine species worldwide are affected by plastic pollution through ingestion or entanglement.

How to reduce environmental footprint of food packaging

1. Bring reusable containers when purchasing takeaway food.
2. Use reusable bags instead of plastic or paper ones for fruits and vegetables.
3. Buy in bulk using your own jars or containers to minimize packaging waste.
4. Replace individually packaged snacks with bulk options that can be portioned into reusable containers.
5. Choose products with no packaging or minimal, recyclable materials when grocery shopping.
6. Support shops and brands that offer food in reusable packaging or no packaging at all.
7. Use beeswax wraps or silicone covers as alternatives to single-use plastic wrap.
8. Cook meals at home to avoid unnecessary packaging from pre-made or takeaway options.
9. Use delivery services that use reusable or returnable containers for meals
10. Advocate for sustainable practices by encouraging local businesses to adopt reusable and eco-friendly packaging.
11. Introduce zero-waste lunch programs to teach children about minimizing packaging waste and proper recycling.

1. https://ourworldindata.org/ghg-emissions-plastics
2. https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/plastics#:~:text=Only%20about%20an%20estimated%209,the%20environment%2C%20including%20the%20oceans
3. https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/pulp-and-paper
4. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/18/packaging-and-packaging-waste-council-adopts-its-negotiating-position-on-new-rules-for-more-sustainable-packaging-in-the-eu/
5. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
6. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/data/environmental-indicators/indicator-plastic-waste-in-the-north-sea#at-a-glance

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