Reducing food waste with suitable packaging: our practical tips

In France, this problem is particularly worrying, with an alarming estimate that 18% of national food production is wasted, resulting in an incalculable loss of resources. To combat this scourge, innovative solutions are emerging, notably thanks to suitable packaging that preserves the freshness of food and extends its shelf life. In this article, we will explore how the judicious use of this packaging can help reduce food waste in France, while providing practical tips for consumers and players in the food industry.

A first challenge: Preventing food spoilage with environmentally friendly materials

First of all, we must not lose sight of the purpose of packaging: to protect food to make it easier to transport and to stop it from deteriorating, and therefore to limit food waste. It is therefore advisable to choose packaging suited to your products: for long storage, opt for vacuum packaging for example. For more standard foods, wood, bamboo, paper or cardboard will suffice; innovation offers more and more alternatives to plastic, whether single-use or not. Contrary to popular belief, many alternatives to airtight plastic packaging are able to preserve your food perfectly: for example Self-closing Kraft Bags, Kraft Bowls with lid, Bags with window and self-closing, etc. 

Avoid throwing away at all costs!

In your restaurants, snack bars or brasseries, you are at the forefront of anti-waste initiatives, but you can also help to inform your customers and thus make them more responsible. Indeed, education remains a very good vehicle for change. By emphasising, for example, the eco-responsible aspect of your tableware (Reusable tableware, Biodegradable packaging, etc.), you raise your customers' awareness of environmental issues, leading them to question the way they consume. More concretely, you can make the doggy bag more common in your establishment: this means offering your customers the chance to pack up their leftovers so that they can eat them later, otherwise they would inevitably be wasted. To do this, you can opt for Meal trays, a Resealable boxes, or even Kraft Packs. Finally, one initiative seems to have won over many restaurateurs and may convince you too: the anti-waste platforms that allow you to sell your unsold items of the day at reduced prices.