Packaging industry standards are changing to become more sustainable

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Packaging regulations are on the rise for industries on a mission to practice sustainability. Landfills are full of packaging for US consumers’ food and beverages - accounting for nearly half of the garbage. The Plastic Minimum Content Standards law took effect in California, which requires all plastic beverage containers in the state’s bottle deposit program to contain a minimum of 15% recycled content. The percentage will increase over the next ten years to at least 50% by 2030.

Sustainable packaging is important in the food industry for a number of reasons. Traditional packaging materials such as plastic and Styrofoam are not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to pollution and harm to wildlife and natural habitats. Sustainable packaging materials, on the other hand, are made from renewable resources and are biodegradable, reducing the environmental impact of packaging waste. Additionally, this type of packaging requires fewer resources and in the long run, can be more cost-effective for food companies as it reduces waste and the need for disposal, and can also help to reduce costs associated with environmental compliance.

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