7 Types of Organic Food Packaging and What to Avoid

Organic food packaging is becoming more and more available, but are there any you should avoid?

Reviewed and approved by the doctor Leonardo Biolatto.

Written by Jonatan Menguez

Last update: 17 February, 2023

The use of plastic is one of the most urgent environmental problems that humanity must face in order to reduce global warming. Much of this waste comes from the food industry and its packaging. Therefore, it’s important to know the types of organic food packaging.

Millions of tons of plastic waste stagnate in the seas, affecting both human and animal health. The long degradation time of this material leads to the search for alternatives for the storage and transport of food.

What types of organic food packaging exist?

Organic food packaging refers to food containers that are less polluting than those whose raw material comes from fossil fuels. They’re presented as an alternative to plastic packaging, which accounts for 40% of the total production of this material, according to a study published in ScienceDirect.

There are many materials considered more environmentally friendly than plastics in terms of food packaging. These include glass, bamboo, wood, and stainless steel. Using them has many advantages, such as the fact that they have a shorter decomposition time, which means they are biodegradable or compostable.

On the other hand, they don’t interfere with the taste of food and can withstand high temperatures. Although, depending on the material, they have a shorter durability. However, environmental care is one of the most relevant reasons to habituate everyday consumption towards ecological types of food packaging.

Why are the different types of green food packaging necessary?

According to another study by ScienceDirect magazine, it’s estimated that between 4.8 and 12.7 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year. This has generated a historical accumulation in different sectors of the planet, where there are already at least five islands formed by plastic waste.

Such waste takes years and sometimes decades to degrade. However, due to its exposure to ultraviolet radiation, wind, and wave abrasion, the material fragments into particles called nanoplastics.

These tiny pieces affect the aquatic ecosystem, are ingested by marine fauna, and then are consumed by humans. This hs been proven by several scientific studies.

The toxicity of plastic packaging

Another reason to reduce the consumption of plastic packaging is that dozens of chemical substances used in its production are harmful to human health. According to this study, 906 polymers, adhesives, and other chemical additives are involved in the composition of plastic packaging.

Of that total, 63 rank highest in terms of human health hazards and 68 in terms of environmental hazards. And this is only taking into account intentionally added chemicals.

There are other impurities that arise during the manufacturing process or are a by-product of the breakdown of additives. These are known as unintentionally added substances, or NIAS, and represent other hazards that are difficult to determine and investigate.

7 types of environmentally friendly food packaging

According to UN reports, one million plastic bottles are purchased worldwide every minute, and 500 billion bags are used. Reducing single-use plastics is a daily task that also applies to food packaging.

Several studies have analyzed more environmentally friendly alternatives for storing, preserving, and transporting food. Some of the materials used are biopolymers based on cellulose nanofiber and essential oil, among other components. Wheat, wood, and bamboo are positioned as elements from which to make biodegradable packaging.

That is, they decompose in natural environmental conditions, thanks to the action of biological agents such as fungi, plants, bacteria, animals, and the sun. These containers have fewer chemicals than plastics and are therefore good for human health and the environment.

1. Wooden plates and containers

Wooden containers are reusable, i.e. they’re not discarded after the first use. A study published in ScienceDirect showed that wheat pulp packaging and wooden plates are safe for human health. Although they contain some chemicals, the transfer to food is much lower compared to plastics.

2. Glass bottles

Glass is a durable, resistant, recyclable material with multiple uses. According to this study, glass containers dedicated to food are recommended. This is due to its antibacterial properties and low migration of toxic substances into the food.

Glass bottles are increasingly used and there are many designs for all occasions. However, special attention must be paid to their sanitization to avoid the accumulation of bacteria in the spout.

3. PLA cups

PLA cups are very similar to the common ones, have a transparent shade, and are ideal for water, juices, and any cold drink. More and more people are using them because of their compostability. That is, they degrade in natural environments and in a short time.

In addition, they work for the formation of compost in composting plants. They are made from an environmentally friendly polymer from potato starch, corn starch, and other plants. A variant with other additives, called CPLA, is also used to withstand higher temperatures.

4. Types of organic food packaging with rice husks

Packaging made from rice husks, obtained from rice cultivation, is biodegradable, economical, and resistant. In addition, a scientific study proved that this absorbent material has the potential to eliminate several contaminants. Different containers for food transfer are available for sale.

5. Bamboo

Bamboo fibers are widely used for making biodegradable packagings, such as bowls, boxes, lids, and jars. A study published in ScienceDirect highlights its mechanical and thermal properties as very advantageous for this purpose. However, it has the disadvantage of wearing out faster than other materials.

6. Sugarcane

Sugarcane bagasse is a collection of fibers left over from the industrial processing of sugarcane. This material has begun to be used as a base for the manufacture of plates and containers for food distribution. Research has proved its potential for storage thanks to its resistance to high temperatures.

7. Stainless steel

There’s nothing better than a resistant, durable, stainless, and reusable material for food storage. This is an option available for items such as lunch boxes and thermoses. In addition, containers with airtight lids are often used for storing grains, flour, and spices.

Single-use plastics: What are they and which ones we should avoid?

These are objects made of plastic materials, made from petroleum derivatives, which are discarded after the first use. This causes serious damage to the environment since they take years and even decades to degrade.

However, this isn’t the only danger that these objects represent, since the packaging of food in plastic carries the risk of transferring toxic substances. Numerous studies, such as the one published in the scientific portal Environmental Health, prove that materials in contact with food are a route of exposure to hazardous chemicals.

This includes some known and others that have not been toxicologically characterized. Therefore, it’s advisable to avoid the consumption of the following single-use plastics:

• Disposable cups and cutlery
• Straws
• Wrappers
• Bottles
• Bags

Tips to stop using plastic and use other types of eco-friendly food packaging

There’s new legislation in Spain and the European Union that limit the sale of single-use plastics. However, there are also individual actions that can be taken in everyday life. For example, carrying cloth shopping bags and using recyclable or reusable hygiene items can help.

In terms of food, it’s important to avoid single-use utensils and packaging by prioritizing ecological types of food packaging. These objects are increasingly manufactured and marketed, so the available offer is diversified.