Technical emptiability of dairy product packaging and its environmental implications in Austria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Food waste is a major ecological concern around the globe. While the main function of packaging is to contain and protect food, it may also lead to food waste if residues remain in a package after emptying. Such residues could be attributed to wasteful behavior of consumers, but also to properties of packaging (e.g., geometry, surface tension) and food (e.g., surface tension, viscosity).

Methods

In this study, the technical emptiability (ability of packaging to be emptied entirely) of 36 dairy products is analyzed. Firstly, the amount of food residues in packaging after emptying at room and refrigerator temperature was weighed and set in relation to the original filling quantity. Secondly, streamlined life cycle assessments (LCAs) based on the Product Environmenta

SUBMITTER: Wohner B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6743449 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature