Product design & packaging food waste: solutions

Product design & packaging

• Optimize package size.

Modifying packaging sizes and designs to optimize consumer consumption and avoid residual container waste.

Potential impact of reducing package size: 208 thousand tons of waste diverted, $3,443 economic value per ton, 830 thousand tons of GHGs reduced, 100 billion gallons of water saved

• Look for innovative packaging solutions to reduce spoilage and waste.  

Apeel Sciences, for example, has developed packaging made out of edible plant material that slows the rate of spoilage.

Potential impact of spoilage prevention packaging: 72 thousand tons of waste diverted, $2,326 economic value per ton, 329 thousand tons of GHGs reduced, 44 billion gallons of water saved

• Package produce by the pound.

The standards in which produce is packed can contribute to food loss — uniform size and shapes and number of units. If produce were packed by the pound may allow retailers to reduce waste of too-small, too-large or imperfect-shaped items.