The Blue Economy - CASE 27: Rethinking Food and Drinks Packaging
This article introduces innovations to package food with a full recovery of all polyethene and aluminium as one of the 100 innovations that shape the Blue Economy, known as ZERIʼs philosophy in action. It is part of a broad effort by the author and designer of the Blue Economy to stimulate open-source entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and employment. Researched, Written, and Updated by Professor Gunter Pauli.
The Blue Economy Inspired Series
Rethinking Food and Drinks Packaging:
Innovations in Sustainability
Written by; Shelley Tsang, 2024.
In an era where environmental concerns and waste management are at the forefront of global discourse, the food and beverage industry is undergoing a significant transformation. The rise of aseptic packaging has revolutionized how products are packaged, allowing for longer shelf life and convenience. However, this innovation comes with its own set of challenges, particularly regarding sustainability and waste management. As the world pivots towards a more circular economy, rethinking food and drink packaging has emerged as a vital innovation within the framework of the Blue Economy. This article explores the current landscape of food and drink packaging, the innovations driving change, and the opportunities for creating sustainable systems.
The Market Landscape
In 2008, global consumption of liquid dairy products reached an unprecedented high of 258 billion litres, marking a growth rate of 2.2% from the previous year. The aseptic packaging market, which facilitates the sterilization of food and drinks independently from the packaging, has seen substantial growth, with sales reaching 86 billion litres and 187 billion packs by the same year. The Asian market has been particularly dynamic, growing at an astonishing rate of over 13% annually. Notably, milk accounts for more than 45% of all aseptically packed products, highlighting the reliance on this technology.
The success of aseptic packaging is primarily due to its ability to enhance shelf life while maintaining product quality. Companies like Tetra Pak, which controls approximately 80% of the market, and SIG, with a 15% share, dominate this space. Both companies are pioneers in multilayered packaging, which offers benefits across various consumer goods, including beverages, cosmetics, and snacks. However, as the industry expands, so does the volume of waste generated, raising concerns about the sustainability of such packaging methods.
The Challenge of Waste
Aseptic packaging, while innovative, contributes significantly to the growing problem of solid municipal waste. With increasing consumer demand for convenience and shelf stability, the amount of multilayered packaging—composed of plastics and aluminium—has surged. Unfortunately, these materials are notoriously difficult to recycle, resulting in large quantities ending up in landfills. Each year, an estimated 380,000 to 420,000 tons of aluminium from aseptic packaging is discarded, creating a pressing need for effective waste recovery solutions.
Efforts to recycle these materials have encountered significant challenges. While initiatives have focused on recovering paper fibres and other components, the separation of plastics and aluminium from multilayered packaging remains complex and resource-intensive. Traditional recycling processes consume large amounts of water and energy, leading to questions about their overall sustainability.
Innovative Solutions: The Role of Microbiology
Amid these challenges, innovative thinkers are exploring new methodologies to address the waste generated by aseptic packaging. Gloria Niño López, a microbiologist from Colombia, observed how certain microorganisms can break down materials effectively. Inspired by how lichens penetrate rocks, she studied the decomposition process of milk within aseptic packaging. By identifying specific microbial species attracted to decomposing food, she developed a biological cocktail capable of separating multilayered materials, providing an open-source technology solution for waste recovery.
Similarly, Anders Byström, working at the Bedminster waste recycling plant in Sweden, discovered that a brief retention period in a rotary kiln could effectively separate aluminium foils and dust from aseptic packaging. These findings were validated through collaborations across various countries, demonstrating the potential of decentralized waste recovery processes. Despite the proof of concept, industry reluctance to adopt these innovative approaches has hindered broader implementation.
Lessons from Curitiba: A Social Enterprise Model
One of the most promising case studies in waste recovery is the initiative spearheaded by Curitiba's Mayor, Casio Taniguchi, in 2000. He established a social enterprise focused on collecting and separating aseptic packaging into its constituent materials: paper, polyethene, and aluminium. While the project faced challenges, particularly due to a lack of support from suppliers, it provided valuable insights into community engagement and decentralized waste management.
By offering incentives, such as payment in the form of bus tickets for marginalized communities participating in the recycling process, the project created a sustainable model for waste recovery. The experiences gained from Curitiba, along with similar efforts in Tokyo and Bogotá, underscore the potential for decentralized social enterprises to alleviate the growing burden of multilayered packaging on landfills.
The Business Case for Sustainable Packaging
As the demand for sustainable packaging solutions increases, the opportunity to establish small-scale operations focused on recovering materials from multilayered packaging has become increasingly viable. These initiatives can create multiple cash flows by addressing several aspects of waste management:
Waste Collection and Separation
Organizations can be compensated for collecting and processing waste, diverting materials from landfills and contributing to a cleaner environment.
Sustaining Landfill Lifespan
By diverting waste from landfills, these projects can extend the commercial life of existing dumps, mitigating the need for new waste disposal sites.
Recycling Materials
The recovered materials—high-quality aluminium, polyethene, and paper—can be sold to manufacturers, creating a revenue stream that supports the business model.
Utilizing By-products
The fermentation process of leftover materials can produce additional ingredients, creating a self-sustaining input for the recycling process.
Waste Branding
Companies can engage in waste branding, raising awareness about how their packaging contributes to new life and job creation, and enhancing their corporate social responsibility profiles.
By leveraging these revenue streams, small operations can effectively manage multilayered packaging waste while fostering community engagement and entrepreneurial initiatives.
Creating a Circular Economy
The innovations in food and drink packaging represent a pivotal shift towards a circular economy—an economic model that emphasizes resource efficiency and sustainability. By rethinking how we package, consume, and dispose of products, the industry can minimize waste and reduce reliance on finite resources. The shift from linear to circular models encourages manufacturers to design packaging with end-of-life considerations in mind, making it easier to recycle or repurpose materials.
As we confront the growing challenges of waste management and environmental sustainability, embracing innovative approaches to packaging will be crucial. Collaborations between governments, private companies, and local communities can drive the development of effective recycling systems and foster a culture of sustainability.
Conclusion
The journey towards rethinking food and drink packaging is fraught with challenges, yet it is also ripe with opportunity. Innovations like those seen in Curitiba, combined with the breakthroughs in microbiological separation of multilayered materials, offer a pathway to a more sustainable future. By adopting a circular economy model, we can not only address the pressing issues of waste management but also create a system that benefits both the environment and local communities.
As we move forward, the integration of sustainability into packaging design and waste management practices will be essential in shaping a resilient food and beverage industry. The innovations in aseptic packaging, recycling, and community engagement can pave the way for a healthier planet, demonstrating that it is possible to rethink our approach to packaging while achieving economic and social benefits. The future of food and drink packaging lies in our ability to innovate, collaborate, and embrace sustainable practices that honour both our consumers and the environment.
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