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Can edible packaging solve our waste problem?

Author Damien Wilde
Posted On 5th September 2016

Can edible packaging solve our waste problem

Unfortunately as a species we produce too much waste.

Our food production methods can be very intensive and put a strain on our local environment and the planet. Climate change is a real problem and we as caterers need to try and help alleviate the climate strain.

Then what if we could rid ourselves of packaging entirely? What about if it was edible?

Frustration free packaging is a real hit with consumers, think about it. If you order something the size of pen for instance, you don’t need 3 layers of thick plastic and a paper insert, right?

Our nation is becoming much more aware of the environmental effects of waste and sending waste to landfill.

But researchers at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed an edible and biodegradable packaging film, much like cling film and similar to the standard vacuum packed plastic encasing you see on many frozen food products.

Made from the milk protein, casein. This new wrap product is a major step in the right direction. Standard petroleum-based films and plastics are unsustainable, not biodegradable and are not environmentally friendly because of the reliance on crude oil, and the sheer amount of waste that has to go to landfill each year.

Not only does this new wrapping help decrease waste, it’s 500 times more effective at keeping oxygen away from food, which reduces spoilage. This is due to a tighter network of microholes, which are much less porous than traditional plastic films.

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Slightly less stretchy than regular plastic, the film is likely to be fortified with vitamins, probiotics and nutraceuticals before it makes it’s way to shelves in the next three years.

Currently containing little flavour, we’d love to see the packaging tasting or adding to the tastes found in the food that it’s encasing.

Imagine cheese wrapped in a wine flavoured edible plastic film. Now that is progress we can get behind!

In addition to being used as plastic pouches and wraps, the casein coating could be sprayed onto cereal flakes or bars to help improve texture retention when milk is poured on.

The spray also could line pizza or other food boxes to keep the grease from staining the packaging, or to serve as a lamination step for paper or cardboard food boxes or plastic pouches.

The possibilities are almost endless! And we can’t wait to eat all of our packaging!

Until we have edible packaging for your to chomp into, we have a range of quality food sealing products, sandwich wedges, food tort packs, paper baguette bags and even more to help keep your food fresh in the meantime!

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