Green Food and Its Green Packaging Strategy (2)

3.2 Edible packaging

Edible packaging means that when the packaging function is realized, it will become a kind of edible raw material when it is about to become “waste”. This kind of special packaging that can realize the transformation of the packaging function is the edible packaging. For example, the cereal film developed by the University of Cremon, USA uses corn, soybean, and wheat as raw materials, and the extracted vegetable protein is processed into a film, which can not only maintain moisture, but also has good moisture-proof and oxygen-blocking capacity, and has certain antibacterial properties. Sex, suitable for sausages and other food packaging, after use for poultry consumption or fertilizer.

3.3 Recyclable packaging materials

The repeated use and recycling of packaging materials is an effective way to protect the environment and promote the recycling of packaging materials. Glass bottles used in packaging for beer, beverages, soy sauce, etc. can be used repeatedly, such as Sweden and other countries, polyester PET bottles and PC bottles The number of re-uses was more than 20 times; both Wellam in the Netherlands and Johnson in the United States returned 100% of PET bottles. In the United States and Japan, the recycling of packaging materials has become industrialized and commercialized.

3.4 Paper packaging

Paper packaging is the current international popular "green packaging." Because the main component of paper packaging is natural plant cellulose, it is easily decomposed by microorganisms, which reduces the cost of processing the packaging waste; and the raw materials for paper packaging are abundant and readily available. Paper packaging is widely used as a substitute for metal cans to hold a variety of liquid beverages, foods, milk, etc. For example, the Swedish “Tyler brick” aseptic fresh-keeping carton packs are prepared, and the contained foods can be stored for 6 months without refrigeration. After the packaging is recycled, it can be used to make furniture and decorative materials. This kind of sterile "Tetraile" fresh-keeping carton packaging has become the mainstream of European liquid food packaging.

3.5 Other packaging materials

China's bamboo forest area ranks first in the world, bamboo packaging has a wide range of resources, non-toxic, non-polluting, recyclable characteristics, in line with the principle of the selection of green packaging materials, so in our country, further broaden the scope of use of bamboo packaging and have a far-reaching significance.

4 Countermeasures

4.1 Formulate and improve regulations

Through the formulation of relevant laws and regulations and education and guidance to the majority of food producers and consumers, people have fully realized that green packaging can improve the living environment of human beings and ensure the healthy and sustainable development of the green packaging industry.

4.2 Strengthening research on new materials

Vigorously promoting modern packaging technologies to replace traditional packaging processes is an effective way to ensure access to green packaging. For example, electronic color separation and electronic engraving are used instead of backward photogravure manufacturing processes to avoid environmental hazards due to the release of corrosive liquids.

It is of great practical significance to vigorously promote the use of “green” printed materials with small pollution and low pollution in food packaging processes, such as water-based inks, water-based varnishes and other water-based printing materials.

For example, using chitosan edible packaging film as a food packaging material solves the contradiction between food packaging waste and environmental protection, and can be used for preservation of candy, preserved fruit, cakes, and moon cakes. The corn protein packaging film is suitable for the packaging of high- fat, high-permeability, high-permeability food products and the inner packaging of fast food boxes and other foods with oil.

4.3 Actively introduce and absorb foreign mature technologies

Moderately packaged green food, and actively promote "no packaging", "minus packaging" and partial packaging. Developed countries have imposed restrictive standards on packaging since the 1980s and have adopted a series of laws and regulations. The United States has promulgated the "Packaging and Packaging Waste Restriction Law." Japan has promulgated the "Outline for the Packaging of Gift Boxes for Commodity Gifts," and some countries have explicitly stipulated that packaging costs should be controlled within 15 percent of the price of goods.

Use the same material as much as possible to reduce the type of material. Designing with the same material as much as possible does not limit the diversity of the packaging design, but mainly for the convenience of recycling.

Detachable, easy to compress, folded design. When designing the structure of the package, it should be considered removable, easy to compress, and easy to fold, making it easier to transport and recycle. Establish an advanced recycling system so as to save energy and resources. At present, the recycling of packaging waste is better in European countries, especially in Germany, where the recycling rate has reached 83%, while the recycling rate in China is less than 10%.

4.4 Strengthen Design Identification

Green packaging and green food are inseparable. Green packaging is not only a requirement for materials and functions in the packaging process of green foods, but also clearly identifies the appearance of the packaging. The environmental protection department's appearance requirements for green packaging must be “five in one”: green food (environmental sign), green food wording, coding, anti-counterfeiting laser labels and certification units. When consumers purchase green food, they can determine whether the purchased product is a genuine green product based on the above five criteria on their packaging.

Source: Shanghai Packaging