Thinking Outside the Box: Packaging for a More Sustainable Food System

It's no secret that we, and especially we Americans, produce a lot of waste. Food waste is no exception, and as we begin to rethink things to build a more sustainable food system, one of the issues we need to address is food packaging.

The most sustainable packaging can be found at the farmers market or farm stand, and is minimal to none. You can buy a handful of beans or a bunch of carrots and put them in your reusable canvas grocery bag, without the addition of plastic or anything extra. Just food, no frills. Better yet, go to your local farm and pick your own, again bringing your own reusable bags or boxes.

But the grocery store is usually a different story. Plastic  and cardboard hold individually wrapped snack items neatly in their boxes; double-layer plastic egg cartons ensure that organic eggs are extra safe?; Styrofoam and plastic extends the shelf life of meat and allows us to take a closer look. The grocery store is chock full of unnecessary convenience packaging that we've come to consider normal.

Some food companies, in an effort to appease the public which is just beginning to clamor for greener, more sustainable food packaging that cuts down on waste, are going back to the drawing board. Using biodegradable, compostable, or other alternative materials helps to lessen the impact of food packaging waste on the planet.

In some cases, compostable beats out the old standard of recyclable. For example, Stonyfield Yogurt just switched their yogurt cups from recyclable petroleum-based plastic to cups made from polylactic acid (PLA), a compostable material. In addition, PLA uses a lot less fossil fuel to manufacture. This shift greatly reduces Stonyfield's packaging GHG emissions, although it's not totally clear just how long these new containers will actually take to compost.

While it is encouraging that some companies are thinking outside of the box and redesigning their packaging to cut down on waste and environmental impact, it is still best to shop wisely. Don't buy individually wrapped food. Buy whatever you can in the bulk section, which usually has a wide variety of things available, from pasta and rice, to tea, chocolate, baking ingredients, and snacks. Bring your own containers or reused bags to fill up on all your pantry needs. Many natural food stores sell eggs or cheeses in bulk too, and you can refill an old egg carton or plastic container with fresh supplies. Buy milk that comes in returnable glass bottles. Chances are it's more likely to be local, and when you return the bottle to the store, the farmer will pick it up to reuse for market. The less packaging is involved, the fresher the food usually is, and by averting contribution to the landfill, the higher it ranks as a truly sustainable food.

Photo credit: audion