Plastic Food Packaging Problems

2 1 safety of packaging materials.

Plastic food packaging problems.

The impacts of packaging on the environment. Yet perhaps the most fundamental problem trasande. Avoid use of plastic containers with the number 3 or. Unfortunately most packaging is designed as single use and is typically thrown away rather than reused or recycled.

One study detected nine different types of plastics ingested by humans through food or dust. The problem is that most fiber food packaging provides good physical and uv light barriers but isn t a good enough barrier for liquids on its own and so requires plastic coatings or other additives like perfluorinated chemicals pfas which can render them unable to be recycled in the case of a plastic lining or might be detrimental to. 6 according to the us environmental protection agency epa food and food packaging materials make up almost half of all municipal solid waste. By liz gyekye 21st december 2018 1st february 2019 0 3143.

Another category plastic food packaging helps keep our food clean and safe and extends freshness. And because plastic is both strong and lightweight it helps. Certain plastic products are specifically designed to be used once or for a short time to help promote health and sanitary conditions think bandages contacts personal hygiene. The most common were polypropylene which is found in bottle caps and rope and polyethylene from drinking bottles and plastic bags.

According to statistics about 60 of china s food packaging materials there are security risks. Often the sustainable options are limited. In 2014 out of the 258 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the us. From soda bottles to plastic wrapping for food to product packaging or even plastic products themselves our obsession with cheap disposable products has created a serious environmental crisis.

Plastics are in the human food chain as well. Use safer dishware made from materials like glass or stainless steel. In the food market used in plastic bags plastic bottles plastic barrels of food packaging accounted for the majority. Designs have to be able to ensure that public health issues like cross contamination won t occur.

Food packaging for example is one of the biggest hurdles because consumer safety is paramount. Don t microwave food in plastic containers put food on a plate instead. Current problems in food packaging in china. Progressive food establishments have traded it and other hazardous packaging for safer plant based alternatives.