Plastic packaging intended for food are essential to reduce food waste.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), every year one third of food intended for human consumption is lost or wasted. Translated in terms of weight, this estimate corresponds to over 1 billion tons of food while, in economic terms, to approximately 940 billion dollars lost.
The reasons behind these figures are complex and cannot be traced back to a single cause; furthermore, the numbers vary greatly depending on the different geographical regions and increase in developing countries, where packaging (especially plastic) is little or not used at all. In these countries, FAO estimates that about 50% of the food produced or harvested deteriorates before consumption, contributing not only to increased waste but also to a decrease in the availability of food for people, with consequent problems of malnutrition and scarcity of available resources.
In Italy, in 2022, the waste of food and energy used for its production amounted to 15.6 billion euros, or 1% of the national GDP. Each person wastes on average about 75 grams of food per day, especially “fresh” food such as bread, fruit and vegetables.
The advantages of plastic packaging for food preservation
Plastic food packaging allows you to preserve food better, maintaining their properties intact for a much longer period than unpackaged ones. For example, wrapping vegetables in plastic film increases their shelf life by 4 times; consequently, packaging can also actively contribute to reducing food waste, both on a large scale and within individual families.
Another positive effect resulting from the use of plastic packaging suitable for food contact is related to transport and handling. Plastic packaging, in fact, is light, flexible and particularly resistant to impacts and mechanical stress. It is easier to transport and allows for better logistical organization as it completely isolates the contained product from contact with the outside. Compared to other materials, it helps to reduce the number of means of transport since they often the space occupied by packaging is also reduced, as in the case of PET bottles compared to glass ones.
Furthermore, plastic is safe and hygienic., fundamental aspects for food preservation; in fact, poorly preserved food increases the probability of proliferation of mold, bacteria or other microorganisms harmful to human health. All the food plastics that Teamplast uses are certified and suitable for contact with food and thanks to technology today increasingly sophisticated and safe granules are obtained, capable of protecting food from humidity, temperature variations, solar rays, impacts and microbes.
In a historical period like the one we are living in, where attention to waste is very high, it is important to make conscious choices, starting from our daily lives. Even the simple preference for plastic packaging instead of paper can make a difference, remembering that, if disposed of correctly, plastic can transform from waste to resource for the creation of new life cycles.
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