5 Eco-Friendly Food Packaging Options - Ambica Enterprises

Food packaging accounts for roughly 60% of all plastics produced worldwide.

That means that food packaging accounted for 228 million metric tonnes of the 380 million metric tonnes of plastics produced in 2015.

Why is it important to use sustainable food packaging?

Plastics' accumulation in the oceans and landfills, the production of micro-and nano plastics, and human exposure to toxins when chemicals in food packaging transfer to foods are all major concerns.

Many non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) are found in food packages, in addition to the chemicals that are intentionally used to make plastics. In humans, these chemicals can cause toxicity and endocrine disruption.

However, environmentally friendly packaging is becoming increasingly popular.

These environmentally friendly food packages frequently use biodegradable, reusable, and chemical-free sustainable bioplastics and plant-based extracts, such as wheat, wood, and bamboo.

While eco-friendly packaging has been shown to contain chemicals and NIAS, studies show that the movement of chemicals into food and your body is much lower with eco-friendly packaging than with plastics, making it safer for the environment and human health.

Although chemical exposure from food packaging is unavoidable, efforts to reduce chemical transfer into food are critical for human health.

Options for environmentally friendly food packaging

Here are five environmentally friendly food packaging options that are good for the environment and your health.

1. Glass Containers

Glass has a wide range of applications and advantages in everyday life.

It's a reusable, recyclable, and long-lasting material that's also simple to clean and transport food in. Water bottles and bento boxes are examples of glass food and drink containers.

Glass lids, on the other hand, do not seal tightly, making them unsuitable for taking to work, school, or on a trip.

As a result, the majority of these portable glass food containers have snap-locking plastic lids with silicone seals or bamboo lids that double as cutting boards.

These containers have a 3.5-times longer lifespan than plastics and can be recycled when no longer needed, reducing the negative environmental impact of plastics.

2. Stainless Steel

Food-grade stainless steel is a safe choice for food storage because it is durable, rust-free, and heat resistant. It can also be reused and recycled.

Most stainless steel bento lunch boxes use silicone to keep them leak-free, either through a silicone seal with lockable steel clips or colorful, BPA-free, food-safe silicone lids.

For bulk foods like flours, grains, and spices, glass storage jars with stainless steel, and airtight lids offer the best of both worlds.

3. Bamboo

Bamboo is biodegradable and has several advantages for food packaging, including durability and heat resistance.

Countertop glass jars with bamboo lids, portable plastic-free lunch boxes with bamboo lids, bamboo bread boxes, and bamboo serving bowls are all examples of bamboo-based food packaging.

Keep in mind that food containers made of bamboo or other plant fibers are less durable than glass or stainless steel and are more susceptible to wear and tear.

5. Rice Husk

Rice husk is a low-cost, renewable, and biodegradable byproduct of rice farming.

Rice husk was found to have bio-adsorbent properties in one study, which means it absorbs pollutants from its surroundings.

This material is used to make sealable lunch boxes and shatterproof serving bowls.

6. Gelatin Films

Because of their nontoxic properties, low cost, and consistent film-forming capacity, gelatin films are becoming more popular for food packaging.

Antimicrobial cellulose, found in gelatin films, inhibits the growth of pathogens that cause foodborne illness, such as Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Gelatin films are a safer alternative to conventional plastics because of these active filters.

Ambica Enterprises is an Indian company that produces environmentally friendly, paper-based disposable food packaging using trees from sustainably managed plantations.