Investigating barriers in the risk assessment of recyclable food packaging in India

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Packaging material used for different kinds of food materials....................................................................4
Health benefits of recyclable packaging material........................................................................................5
Drawbacks of packaging material................................................................................................................6
Usage quantity in food packaging................................................................................................................7
Impact of packing material on food quality.................................................................................................8
Ways to improve the quality.......................................................................................................................9
Introduction
The ultimate aim of food packaging is to safeguard the safety and quality of food it has from
manufacturing to final utilization. In addition to this, packaging is to safeguard product from
physical and chemical damage. The most well established materials that meet these criteria are
co-polymer based material and polyethylene. It has been observed that they are used by the
food industry since past 50 years. These materials are not just safe, affordable but also flexible.
These days, it has come to notice that sustainability if the basic requirement in packaging. It not
just helps in waste reduction but also help to encourage and enable the consumers to recycle.
Packaging material used for different kinds of food
According to … bioplastic shows that the material has similar traits like the fossil fuels. Bio
plastic can be used for diverse means such as packaging, textiles, adhesives, coating etc. It is not
easy to identify this packaging material because they look like their conventional fossils. The
extent to which this material can be biodegraded is reliant at the composition and ecological
conditions where degradation must occur such as temperature, existence of some of the
microorganisms etc. The author further stated that the particular conditions that are essential
for complete biodegradation are not always provided even at the manufacturing compositing
services.

… said that paper and board is also a kind of packaging material. It has been used since a long
period of time now. At the time of manufacturing and customization, diverse additives are
utilized such as fillers, synthetics binders, coatings etc. Most of the times, it is observed that
paperboards are printed, glued, labeled etc. There may be variation in the chemical
composition of this material, therefore, it is not known most of the times.

… stated metal is utilized for food packaging. This material comprises of 90% of the aluminum
mixed with other metal like manganese, copper etc. On the other hand, steel cans are made of
tin coated steel. This material is used for packaging of food since early 19 th century. The
introducing of cans not just helped in storing the food but also in enabled to have food
conservation in package directly.

According to … glass is inorganic material that has been utilized for safeguarding and
transporting food and beverages since ages. In modern packaging, firms make use of soda time
glass. It is made of sand, limestone, soda ash and metal oxides. If there is bottle, then it is
essential that they have closure, so the lids are made up of material such as cork, metal or
plastic.
Health benefits of recyclable packaging material and usage quantity
According to the ecological influences of product at environment are assessed with the help of
Life Cycle analysis. If it is observed in context of environmental health, then it can be said that
these are better for the environment as compared to the plastics. They necessitate lesser
utilization of fossil fuels, produce less waste water and lead to lesser creation of air pollution
and also cause less damage to the functions of natural ecosystem. The author further stated
that bioplastics are made from carbon chain which does not have negative impact on health of
human beings.

… stated that paper and board packaging is beneficial for the environmental health. The paper
containers are made of renewable resources which help in delivering diverse ecological
sustainability credentials. The author further stated that papers bags are eco friendly. Also, the
cardboard boxes can help to carry heavy load and stand still. In addition to this, paper can help
to lock flavors and keep the pests out; therefore, it is best option for products such as spices
and flour to be sealed well. In addition to this, paper is made of forestry materials and it is
advantageous because when material decomposes, it regresses to environmental natural
materials.

… said that aluminum acts as a perfect obstacle against moisture, oxygen and light even if the
foil is very thin. This helps in safeguarding the quality, aroma and safety of the food products
which are packaged in it and they need very less material. In addition to this, the food products
which are packaged with the help of aluminum are entirely safe from bacterial contamination,
light, moisture, contamination that helps to keep the quality of the product intact.
Drawbacks of packaging material
.. said that even though the bio plastics are way better for environment as compared to the
plastics but they have negative influences. The procedure of production necessitates fossil fuel
energy that worsens the change in climate. In addition to this, over utilization of the agricultural
products for bio plastic can create stress at the natural ecosystem by pushing for mono crop
system. It can further lead to the fall in the soil fertility thereby decreasing yield of the
agricultural products. If it is observed in context of aquatic life then it can be said that it has
shown to decrease the uptake of oxygen by gills and in context of human health, it has
secondary negative health influences. In simple words, it can be said that any kind of
production which release greenhouse gases leads to smoke creation that may cause issues in
respiratory system such as asthma. In addition to this, high demand for the agricultural
products will push farmer to make use of more fertilizers that may lead to cancer.

.. stated that plain paper is not adequate for keeping food products due to lack of strength and
low heat seal ability. Diverse components of paper and additives may get in the food products
and lead to major health hazard which is reliant at migration and consumption level. The
migrants in food are highly diverse and also there is variation in the level of toxicity that leads
to creation of complex issues. Printing inks and the components are major drifters in food that
may lead to the failure of kidney, cancer in lungs and also disruption in endocrine system.

According to … aluminum packaging has negative impact on the human health. The major
problem is the quantity of energy that is needed to make new aluminum along with the
wastage. It is damaging environment to major extent. The author further stated that if the firms
continue to ensure to recycle it then consumption of the energy can be decreased to high
degree. This will ensure risk prevention to the environmental damage from waste products.
Impact of packing material on food quality
Plastics comprise of the chemical additives which help in enhancing the material consistency
and toxicity is not known and checked in proper manner. The chemicals in the plastic migrate in
food and water that those foods have. Even if it enters in the small amount, then also it is not
safe for human health.

… said that paper and boards packaging are highly versatile and they come in varied range such
as parchment paper, carton boards for products such as fast food like boxes for Pizza. It is
generally observed that paper is treated with the help of materials such as waxes and resins for
delivering functional properties. In addition to this, paper is also made of renewable sources
that can be re grown and not run out.

According to … metal packaging has excellent properties of acting as a barrier and is resistant to
heat and also can be sealed for barrenness. Aluminum is utilized for making foil and soft drinks
and tin plate is used for making aerosol cans. It is noticed that maximum aluminum packaging is
recycled but it requires more processing such as formation of pinhole for the foil or separating
the films which are laminated. The cans made of metal are covered with organic layer that
helps in safeguarding the food from any kind of chemical reaction. In addition to this, these
liner play vital role in making can stringer by structural reinforcement and making it safe from
any kind of bacterial contaminants.

.. stated that glass packaging is completely recyclable without any kind of loss at the quality as
compared to other packaging materials but the main reason due to which it is not used often is
that it is fragile, heavy and one may have to incur high cost of transportation. In addition to this,
glass can help in preserving food because it can be processed readily as compared to metal can
and also have longer shelf life.
Ways to improve the quality
According to… the chemical migration from paper packaging can be decreased by using barging
fiber in direct contact with food as it leads to highly defined material. In addition to this,
internal bag and layers at inner surface of the papers that are recycled can help to reduce the
chemical migration. Also, the additives such as active carbon that exist in recycled paper and
board can bind the chemical, thereby help in relocation reduction.

.. stated that at the time of recycling the organic coating is removed from the aluminum cans.
Therefore, the coating must always be applied fresh irrespective of the fact that can is made
from recycled or virgin material. In simple words, it can be said that as the coatings are the
main source of migration of chemical in cans and helps in prevention of direct contact of food
and metal, therefore, chemical is not influenced by using any metal.

… said that while recycling, the lead context in glass contained may rise and it is required to be
controlled. Migration may take pace but it is restrict to the surface interaction. The author
stated that there is option for reuse. The glass has property that it can be recycled many times.
The main reason behind this is that glass does not take contaminant and one can easily clean
the surface and use again. Therefore, if the energy consumption of recycling is taken into
consideration, then it can be said that reuse is best option as compared to recycling.