| Title | A review on European Union's strategy for plastics in a circular economy and its impact on food safety |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 3148 |
| Authors | Matthews, C; Moran, F; Jaiswal, AK |
| Title | A review on European Union's strategy for plastics in a circular economy and its impact on food safety |
| Year | 2021 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | In 2018, European Union adopted a European strategy for plastics in a circular economy as a part of their action plan for a circular economy. Sustainability is the underlying motivation behind the plastics strategy with a goal of addressing how plastics are designed, used and recycled in the EU. One of the strategies outlined is that by 2030, all plastic packaging placed on the EU market is either reusable or can be recycled in a cost-effective manner. A large portion of food packaging is multi-layer plastic that is not recyclable in a cost-effective manner. Given the difficulties associated with recycling today's complex food packaging, what impacts will the European Union's strategies for plastics in a circular economy have on food safety? This article explores what is being done and what can be done to mitigate the risks to food safety while adhering to the EU's plastic strategy. It has been observed that the plastic plays a vital role in maintaining food safety, extending shelf-life and minimising food waste. However, it is currently not possible to recycle multi-layer plastic packaging which is widely used throughout the food industry, and there are currently no viable alternatives offering the same level of protection. Unless possible substitutes to multi-layer plastics offering the same level of food protection can be developed then there will be detrimental effects on food quality, safety and shelf-life, which will lead to increased food waste, additional food costs and a reduction in the variety and availability of certain foods. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. |
| https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125263 |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
17020
|
Franz, R; Welle, F Recycling of Post-Consumer Packaging Materials into New Food Packaging Applications-Critical Review of the European Approach and Future Perspectives(2022)Sustainability, 14, 2 | |
| 20803
|
Poças, F; Selbourne, MD Drivers, advances, and significance of measures for effective circular food packaging(2023) | |
| 5730
|
Sundqvist-Andberg, H; Åkerman, M Sustainability governance and contested plastic food packaging e An integrative review(2021) | |
| 8344
|
Ncube, LK; Ude, AU; Ogunmuyiwa, EN; Zulkifli, R; Beas, IN An Overview of Plastic Waste Generation and Management in Food Packaging Industries(2021)Recycling, 6.0, 1 | |
| 22263
|
Singh, AK; Itkor, P; Lee, M; Shin, J; Lee, YS Promoting sustainable packaging applications in the circular economy by exploring and advancing molded pulp materials for food products: a review(2023)Critical Reviews In Food Science And Nutrition, 63.0, 32 | |
| 28625
|
Rivera, XCS; Leadley, C; Potter, L; Azapagic, A Aiding the Design of Innovative and Sustainable Food Packaging: Integrating Techno-Environmental and Circular Economy Criteria(2019) | |
| 2413
|
Arijeniwa, VF; Akinsemolu, AA; Chukwugozie, DC; Onawo, UG; Ochulor, CE; Nwauzoma, UM; Kawino, DA; Onyeaka, H Closing the loop: A framework for tackling single-use plastic waste in the food and beverage industry through circular economy- a review(2024) | |
| 21778
|
Pauer, E; Wohner, B; Heinrich, V; Tacker, M Assessing the Environmental Sustainability of Food Packaging: An Extended Life Cycle Assessment including Packaging-Related Food Losses and Waste and Circularity Assessment(2019)Sustainability, 11.0, 3 | |
| 690
|
Czarnecka-Komorowska, D; Wiszumirska, K Sustainability design of plastic packaging for the Circular Economy(2020)Polimery, 65, 1 | |
| 2703
|
Geueke, B; Groh, K; Muncke, J Food packaging in the circular economy: Overview of chemical safety aspects for commonly used materials(2018) |