As part of her bachelor's thesis in environmental engineering at the ZHAW, Lea Schneider examined the recyclability and life cycle assessment of food packaging.
Problem statement
The substitution of plastic packaging with paper, cardboard, or other fiber-based packaging (fiber-based packaging) in the food sector is a growing trend. Packaging should protect the contents while being recyclable, resource-efficient, and environmentally friendly. The intention is that these will then be materially recovered in the already widespread recycling structures for paper and cardboard. However, the theoretical and actual recyclability of fiber-based packaging diverge significantly. Fiber-based composite packaging, in particular, is problematic. Technically, recycling cannot be carried out as standard. The introduction of fiber-based composite packaging into paper or cardboard collection leads to contamination of the collection streams, which ultimately leads to a decrease in the quality of the recyclate.
Research questions
- Which food packaging has the highest recyclability?
- Which food packaging causes the least environmental impact from a life cycle assessment perspective?
- To what extent does the subsequent tipping point analysis of the food waste rate change the overall result?
Methodology
The aim of this study was to evaluate food packaging in terms of its recyclability and then assess its environmental impact. This was done for Switzerland at the present time (scenario I) and on the basis of a future scenario (scenario II) following the expansion of nationwide collection and recycling infrastructures. In addition, a tipping point analysis of the food waste rate was carried out as part of the study. This is because packaging that is modified to minimize food loss can reduce the overall environmental impact of food. This is equally true if the environmental impact of the packaging itself has to be increased.
Findings
The work shows that product protection and the avoidance of food waste are central criteria in the design of food packaging. Ecological optimization requires the use of monomaterials, a reduction in additives, and a material-saving design, while taking functionality into account. In addition, it becomes clear that bioplastics offer potential, but their ecological assessment requires further research and systemic consideration, particularly with regard to scaling and circularity.
The work was completed at the beginning of July 2024. It can be downloaded here.