Packaging and Quality

Food packaging has to comply with complex requirements: functional implications, need of detailed information, regulatory obligations, impact on the environment. The disposal stage of packaging materials concerns many aspects, from the edible content (when it is not consumed) to the ‘tertiary packaging’ unit (it comprehends ‘m’ secondary packaging and ‘n’ packaged products). Best environmental strategies appear the numerical reduction of packaging components, the use of mono-material packages and the concomitant definition of ‘ecodesign guidelines’. Consequently, recycling can be simplified and the possible reuse of recovered matters for food applications may be workable because of the limitation of chemical contamination. On the other side, economic worries and the full compliance with food safety requirements should be taken into account in the design step. The realisation of environmentally sustainable and food-contact approved packaging can be very challenging for all involved players.