The Environmental Impact Of Fast Food Packaging

Fast food has a special place in the heart of every foodie and this industry has experienced rapid growth mainly due to affordability and convenience. This popular food has a notable impact on the eating habits of consumers as over 16% of Canadians purchase fast food every single day. However, as the industry continues to grow in future, the environmental impact has become a main concern. This is mainly because of the packaging waste generated by the fast food boxes. 

From plastic containers to custom fast food boxes, the sheer volume of packaging waste produced by the industry is alarming. As consumers, we must understand the environmental impact of fast food packaging and what steps to take to reduce the waste footprint caused by our own. 

The Scale Of The Problem

The environmental impact of food packaging not only impacts the environment but human health and the economy combined.  The brands that do not use recyclable fast food packaging contribute to a significant portion of plastic waste happening today.

Also, the disposal of food packaging waste poses significant challenges for a waste management system that leads to litter, pollution and other environmental problems. Furthermore, it also increases the cost of the economy so it is necessary to look for ways to reduce the packaging costs and give this problem an ultimate solution. 

The Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of food packaging is more staggering than we think it is. Custom fast food packaging has severe environmental concerns affecting the ocean, soil, and freshwater thus resulting in different diseases. Some of the serious raising concerns are given below:

Plastic Pollution

Fast food packaging contributes to plastic pollution in several ways. As we discussed above the fast food industry is growing in a hush every day, so the increasing demands result in increased plastic packaged food.

Deforestation

Paper fast food packaging results in deforestation because this involves the harvesting of trees. About 17 trees have to sacrifice their lives for the production of one tonne of white paper. As a result, deforestation can have a serious bad impact on biodiversity because forest is the home of many species.

Greenhouse Emissions

The manufacturing of fast food packaging boxes uses a lot of natural resources which can release pollutants into the environment and result in greenhouse emissions. The fast food industry has a contribution of two-thirds of the whole world’s packaging so if the matter is not taken into action then it can strain the environment.

Waste Management

Waste management involves collecting and imposing the waste in a manner that reduces environmental impact. The harsh fact is that fast food boxes packaging can lead to several waste management challenges. The loaded amount of waste can lead to soil, water and air pollution so enforcing strict regulations has become a necessity.

The Human Impact

The health of the environment is directly proportional to human health. When it’s a matter of food contamination, inattentive food packaging can have far-reaching consequences for human health and communities. Some prominent considerations regarding the human impact that results from food packaging are given below:

Chemical Contamination

The effect of chemical contamination can vary depending on the food and manufacturing of packaging. Custom printed fast food boxes also make a great impact depending on the type of inks and dyes used in the printing. Also, fast food packaging even of renowned food brands can contain PFAS (forever chemicals) that can be absorbed into food thus causing a bad impact on health.

Food safety

If your packaging is not designed and manufactured properly then it can impose several food safety risks thus ultimately resulting in health problems. The use of low-quality materials, improper manufacturing, storage and handling can affect food safety badly which can lead to life-threatening conditions. Freezing is an organic way to preserve food nutrients and frozen foods can help reduce waste so maximizing the use of frozen food boxes is another beneficial aspect.

Community Impact

The impact of food packaging is not limited to human health but local communities as well. The unmindful production of fast food boxes can lead to several types of pollution such as noise, water, air and traffic congestion. It can also result in unhealthy norms around the community.

Solutions And Alternatives

Now that you have read about the environmental impact of food packaging, you must get the idea of how the careless packaging of fast food can cause a lot of environmental crises. But to every problem, there’s a solution. Due to the rising concerns of global warming, sustainable packaging has become a new packaging trend thus a lot of businesses are on the way to shift their packaging that benefits the environment. This is also happening due to the changing demands of the consumers. So we can tackle this issue by following the guidelines mentioned below:

Sustainable Packaging Materials

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of shifting to safe and personalised fast food packaging is to choose eco-friendly materials. Use reusable materials and avoid single-use packaging. Kraft, cardboard and corrugated are all examples of nature-friendly materials that are widely used for custom food boxes. These materials are also cheap and give maximum customization so choosing plastic over them is just insanity. Here is how choosing sustainable materials can have a good impact on the environment:

• Reducing waste
• Reducing costs
• Degrading faster
• Improving brand image
• Supporting sustainable development

Reduced Packaging

Reduced packaging is another effective way of reducing environmental impact and conserving resources. It offers multiple benefits such as reduced cost, carbon footprint and pollution as well. It can be achieved by many practices and the most important is optimizing fast food packaging design. Some practices for reducing packaging are as follows:

• Using reusable packaging
• Checking supply chain sources
• Embracing minimalist packaging
• Optimizing design and size
• Choosing recyclable materials
• Educating consumers on recycling

Composting And Recycling

Composting and recycling are other ways of getting desired and risk-free fast food packaging. This way you can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and create valuable resources for agriculture. This process includes collecting, sorting, mixing brown and green materials, aeration and then monitoring the temperature and moisture to ensure optimal composting. So using fast food boxes with logo that represents an eco-friendly brand in the market will deliver a huge positive response, especially from eco-conscious consumers. The following are the benefits of composting and recycling:

• Reduces wastes
• Create nutrient-rich soil
• Conserves water
• Mitigate climate change 
• Conserves natural resources

Education And Awareness

Education is simply the soul of society they say, as it can transform the whole world with its power. The same is the case with packaging as it is necessary to educate and create awareness among both consumers and retailers for reducing environmental impact. It can lead to behavioural change and can foster community engagement. Here are some guidelines on how you can use education as a tool to create awareness among people:

• Formal education
• Community Outreach
• Social media campaigns
• Collaboration and partnerships
• Gamification and incentives
• Setting clear goals and objective

Conclusion

The environmental impact of food packaging is a serious concern that requires immediate action both from consumers and retailers. You must have gotten the idea after reading the scale of the problem, the environmental and human impact and how this matter is continuously destroying the earth. For this, consider looking for a supplier who provides sustainable packaging solutions. CustomBoxesMarktet is the most renowned and experienced packaging firm having an FSC and FDA approved manufacturing process. So, consider us if you want eco-friendly fast food boxes wholesale with assured quality. Together, we can reduce this impact by following sustainable practices and creating a healthy future for our planet.