In the previous post, we have covered how packaging, especially in this age of heightened safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to unnecessary waste. They also tend to be rather environmentally pollutive using materials like plastics (Guillard et al., 2018), which when disposed and not recycled can further contribute to pollution as seen here. So what can we do, apart from recycling our packaging, to reduce the waste generated from packagings? Well, then we have to re-imagine what packaging even means to us.
One method is rather mundane and not uncommon in our daily lives: Using reusable packaging instead of single-use plastics. We have seen multiple campaigns in Singapore alone that encourage consumers to use reusables such as cotton bags and metal straws in replacement of single-use products like plastic bags and straws. Watch the video below that follows Singaporean families as they adapt to not using any plastic bags in a week (CNA Insider, 2018)!
However, it is also paramount that consumers recognise that switching to these alternatives does not equate to being pollution-free. This was what a recent study by a team of researchers in NTU found out when it came to bags. They found out that single-use plastic bags in Singapore are more environmentally-friendly than plastic reusable bags unless these reusable bags are reused more than 50 times (Ahamed et al., 2021). The research also highlighted that cotton and paper bags were the least environmentally friendly options, with both scoring a higher global warming potential score than single-use plastic bags. Hence, we ought to stop collecting all these reusable bags and keep them at home, but rather start using them more frequently.
Moreover, there is much more we can do as consumers to further reduce our packaging waste! Ever wonder why fruits and vegetables with peels and skins that are not eaten like apples and bananas are sold in plastic packaging? Well, it is often argued that the packaging helps to reduce food spoilage and ensure food safety (Verghese et al., 2015). However, primary packaging (packaging that merely contains produce together) does not efficiently improve the shelf life of these products (Guillard et al., 2018). Hence, these are some forms of unnecessary packaging present in today’s food chain.
One way to overcome this is to shop in wet markets as compared to supermarkets as pointed previously as they tend to have unpackaged produce. This also allows consumers to buy the amount that they need and not what is already prepackaged, helping to reduce food wastage as well. You could also explore zero-waste shopping such as these outlets where you bring your own containers to buy all sorts of items ranging from rice and grains to soap and detergent. Learn about them below (The Straits Times, 2019)!
Another option that is not that extreme is using biodegradable packaging. There has been an uptick in companies using these packaging materials that are made from microbial biodegradable polymers which are often produced from agro-food waste (Guillard et al., 2018). This includes Mushroom Packaging, a company using mycelium-made packaging, that can be fully compostable. Learn about the groundbreaking plastic-alternative below (Vice Asia, 2019)!
The possibilities of switching from plastic packaging are just endless and they can really change the way we, as consumers, take part in the food economy. Packaging, while helping to improve food safety, may not be required at every instance. So, we can learn how to avoid them when they are not necessary and start using reusable or biodegradable packaging to reduce our ‘foodprints’!
Trailing off,
Jade and Ridzuan
References
Lim, Z.E., Thai, Q.B., Le, D.K., Luu, T.P., Nguyen, P.T.T., Do, N.H.N., Le, P.K., Phan-Thien, N., Goh, X.Y. and Duong, H.M. (2020). Functionalized pineapple aerogels for ethylene gas adsorption and nickel (II) ion removal applications. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, [online] 8(6), p.104524. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213343720308733?via%3Dihub [Accessed 8 Nov. 2020].
Masters, G.M. (1997). Introduction to environmental engineering and science. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
National Environmental Agency (2019). More Consumers Taking Action To Reduce Food Waste; Public Urged To Say ‘No’ To Food Waste This Festive Season. [online] Available at: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/more-consumers-taking-action-to-reduce-food-waste-public-urged-to-say-no-to-food-waste-this-festive-season [Accessed 22 Oct. 2020].
National University of Singapore (2020). NUS Invention: Eco-aerogels made from pineapple leaf fibres. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFzQOjLWI0I&ab_channel=NationalUniversityofSingapore [Accessed 8 Nov. 2020].
The Business Times (2019). My SME Story Ep 4: UglyGood. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXGPndyARRA&ab_channel=TheBusinessTimes [Accessed 8 Nov. 2020].
Wee, L. (2017). More composting to turn food scraps into fertiliser. The Straits Times. [online] Jan 21. Available at: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/home-design/composting-gains-fans [Accessed 8 Nov. 2020].
