Paper and cardboard against food waste
11% less food waste on a national scale, this is the figure that returns the report Waste Watchers 2021 on the occasion of the eighth day against food waste, demonstrating how during the pandemic Italians have developed effective strategies againstwaste based on more prudent expenses and more conscious choices, such as those of favouring efficient and sustainable packaging.
Paper is a natural, biodegradable and recyclable material that is also suitable for use in the food packaging sector. Paper and cardboard are, moreover, a constant subject of research and innovation, with a view to combining more and more performance, safety and sustainability: as illustrated by a study recently carried out by Comieco and the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, innovative materials such as nanocellulose already offer today guarantees of perfect conservation, high degree of recyclability and great application possibilities, opening new scenarios for the development of food packaging in an increasingly sustainable and circular perspective.
"According to the research we conducted with Sant'Anna, 81% of Italian consumers are willing to pay more for a product if it is packaged in sustainable packaging, compared to a European average of 77% and, always the same research, identifies how the use of recycled materials and its final recyclability is the main feature of a sustainable packaging" says Carlo Montalbetti, General Manager of Comieco. "Comieco, together with the packaging supply chain, has long been committed to promoting solutions that meet the new needs of consumers that also affect the strategic decisions of companies".
An increasingly topical issue considering the development of food delivery that this year has accelerated processes already evolving, in relation to the design and innovation of cellulose-based packaging.
From doggy bags, to pizza cartons and food bags, paper and cardboard stand firmly at the forefront of consumer preferences. When asked about the types of packaging, 72% of European consumers say they absolutely prefer paper and cardboard for their sustainability and ease of recycling (Two Sides: packaging in the eyes of the European consumer, 2020).
Referencehttps://www.comieco.org/carta-e-cartone-i-primi-alleati-nella-lotta-contro-lo-spreco-alimentare/
