5 Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Shipping Frozen Foods
By Beth Rush
Frozen food packaging is essential for maintaining food quality and safety. However, with growing concerns over plastic consumption, an overflowing landfill, and harmful manufacturing emissions, companies are eager to find sounder ways to transport and distribute these goods while utilizing sustainable frozen food packaging instead.
The Problem With Frozen Food Packaging
In 2018, the U.S. landfilled 146.1 million metric tons of waste — plastics accounted for 18.46%, while paper and cardboard was 11.78%. Unfortunately, the tremendous amount of food packaging waste increases emissions and enters the environment. Single-use plastics, in particular, cause significant harm to marine ecosystems and wildlife.
These impacts don’t include the extraction of natural resources required for manufacturing processes or the water and energy consumption to create packaging materials. Because food packaging is primarily for single use, there is also little circularity.
Yet, 34% of consumers prioritize sustainability when making buying decisions at the grocery store. Among those, 43% and 37% look for recyclable and reusable packaging, respectively. Their desire for brand sustainability isn’t solely about corporate responsibility but an effort to reduce individual carbon footprints.
How to Ship Frozen Foods More Sustainably
Shipping frozen foods is critical to the global grocery supply chain despite its shortcomings. However, there are alternatives to consider to reduce its impact on the environment.
For instance, processed food typically travels 1,300 miles in the United States before being bought and consumed, while fresh produce travels even further, at 1,500 miles. The food processing industry can reduce transportation emissions by sourcing frozen foods locally, including frozen fruits and vegetables.
Buying frozen foods in bulk from membership warehouse stores is another way consumers can limit the amount of packaging they use.
Overall, the industry is set to enhance insulation and packaging by investing in insulated containers, ice packs, and sustainable materials. Industry experts are even exploring dry ice, which can reach low temperatures of -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it only lasts 18-24 hours and isn’t exactly safe to handle. Environmentally friendly gel packs are much safer and can stay cold for two days, maintaining freshness for perishables.
Sustainable Frozen Food Packaging Trends on the Horizon
Consumer demand for sustainable frozen food packaging has influenced a shift in manufacturing processes. Today, brands and consumers seek eco-conscious materials with less impact on the planet and waste management systems. These are five trends to look for in frozen food wrapping.
Biodegradable Materials
To reduce plastic and harmful polyfluoroalkyl substances, some companies are exploring seaweed, mushroom and plant-based polymers, which easily biodegrade and offset the standard petroleum-produced plastics.
So far, Searo Labs has developed a moisture-controlled, transparent, airtight food cover. It’s also compostable so that consumers can divert landfilled waste at home. The company hopes its innovative solution will be utilized for numerous consumer products, not just food.
Recyclable Plastics
According to researchers in Switzerland, if 80% of recycled plastic were collected, only 20% would be used again in new plastic products. Utilizing recyclable plastic packaging has long been a challenge for shipping frozen foods, especially since not all plastics are recyclable and don’t comingle well when melted. This results in lower-quality recyclable materials for secondary products.
Numerous companies are experimenting with recyclable flexible packaging. Finland’s VTT is investing in a pilot project for plant-based cellulose packaging to improve its barrier properties for commercial use. So far, scientists have had difficulty telling the difference between cellulose and traditional polymer wrappings.
The electron high-barrier packaging film market is also on the rise, with a projected 5.6% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) by 2033 — from $25.32 billion to $44 billion. This packaging is lightweight but capable of improving product shelf life and safety. The health care industry already uses high-barrier packaging because of its resistance to oxygen, odor, vapor, moisture and bacteria.
Minimal Wrapping
Using less packaging material is a sound step toward sustainability in frozen food manufacturing. Unlike fresh produce, you can’t really rely on a food’s natural protective exterior when freezing, but minimal packaging is possible.
If you open a box of frozen, individually wrapped food, you will find a lot of plastic you could do without. Brands can find ways to minimize wrapping so it seals only as much as it needs to.
Sustainable Printing Ink and Processes
You might not think about it, but printing ink on frozen food packaging can hurt a product’s sustainability. Traditionally, the industry’s printing methods use harmful chemicals and ample water. Standard processes also require a lot of fuel, creating greenhouse gas emissions.
Companies are exploring eco-friendly printing inks, technology, and methods to lower the environmental impact of packaging printing. The sustainable printing market even has an estimated 4.2% CAGR by 2026 — from $352.1 billion to $433.4 billion.
Innovations in sustainable frozen food packaging printing could include sourcing renewable and recyclable materials, operating a digital printer — for saved time and resources — and opting for water-based inks with fewer volatile organic compounds.
Reusable Containers
Reusable packaging is another alternative to traditional frozen food wrappings. Glass containers are especially popular for freezing soups and meats, while silicone and zip-close bags are conducive to freeze-storing produce and sauce.
Only some brands may be considering reusable containers for now, but you can use them to prolong food’s shelf life at home. This will save you money from continuously buying single-use packaging and limit your waste production.
Challenges and Considerations
Transitioning to sustainable frozen food packaging is challenging. The initial cost is much higher for brands than standard single-use plastic, particularly in manufacturing recycled products and using environmentally friendly resources. Of course, the higher price to produce these containers and wrappings will also drive up costs for consumers.
Other challenges and considerations include:
> Changing consumer behaviors to adopt and spend more on sustainable food packaging.
> Expanding infrastructure to manufacture alternative food packaging effectively.
> Finding the best container and wrapping materials for specific frozen foods.
> Improving durability and the ability to extend shelf life.
> Initiating recycling programs for the end-of-product life cycle.
Research shows a need to define sustainable packaging in the food industry. Otherwise, it could lead to misinformation and greenwashing. Industry experts and policymakers must set standards for these environmentally friendly alternatives.
The Future of Sustainable Frozen Food Packaging
Food packaging continues to raise alarms for sustainability in food manufacturing. However, a more eco-friendly approach to preserving frozen products could be a game-changer. The world may not have found the perfect solution yet, but the industry is certainly not ignoring the problem either.
About the author: Beth Rush is the green wellness editor at Body+Mind, where she covers topics like the power of climate consciousness at all stages of education. You can find Beth on Twitter @bodymindmag. Subscribe to Body+Mind for more posts by Beth!