It’s no news that food waste is still a huge problem. The impact on the environment, society and agriculture is immense and all across the globe, people are looking for solutions. One of the most impactful but also most challenging would be a change in consumer behavior. While that takes time, there are still other ways to reduce the negative effects of food waste. We start with what we’re best at: packaging.
Causes of food waste
Seasonal influences, the ever-changing taste of consumers and the demand for more options than one could ever buy, there are many factors weighing in. If food simply doesn’t go bad on the shelves in the supermarket, there are still more dangers further back in the supply chain, such as:
- Unpredictable weather conditions
- Not meeting quality specifications or production errors
- Pests, disease and contamination
These factors damage tonnes of food products every day, rendering them useless. The impact of a small insect or hole in packaging can be huge. Not only in terms of food waste, but also regarding consumer health and because of the financial impact.
Fighting food waste with technology
Innovation in packaging solutions can reduce food waste. By protecting products during transport and storage, but also by keeping it fresh longer and extending its shelf life.
One of the biggest innovations has been Modified Atmosphere Packaging. Apart from protecting products during transport, MAP has an additional value: it allows for quality control and keeps products fresh and safe from pests, diseases and contamination.MAP tackles the food waste challenge on all fronts. All while using fewer resources and no harmful or chemical substances.
It has proven to be effective. In the Sustainable Product Innovation Project in Vietnam, MAP was applied to over 1,000 small-scale farmers. This resulted in reductions in post-harvest food waste from 30-40% to 15-20%.
Want to fight food waste with Modified Atmosphere Packaging?
Our experts are happy to tell you more about how MAP can make a positive change in your supply chain. Work with us towards a more sustainable future - get in touch today.