Could plastic packaging actually reduce waste? It sounds counter-intuitive, but one company is trying to become part of the solution.
“Imagine a world without packaging, what kind of food waste problem would we have then?” asks Greg Bunker, marketing manager, flexible food and specialty packaging at Dow Chemical.
When it comes to reducing waste, it’s the type of packaging or material that matters the most. For example, it needs to be consistent and reliable. Going with a material that is cheaper and lower quality could cause contamination. No good! Plastic is known to keep food fresher longer, thus reducing spoilage.
That’s why the company has produced two product lines that work to ensure a food package is “good and mechanically sound,” Bunker said. “We spend a lot of time to make sure we produce materials that are reliable, while also understanding its impact.”
Dow is really putting its money where its mouth is. The company’s packaging group recently joined the Save Food initiative, which is a joint campaign instituted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Messe Düsseldorf GmbH to fight global food loss. Talk about a win-win for the environment and the food supply system!