Not only is this a huge economic loss but it is also putting a lot of pressure on our planet. Imagine all the work, energy, nutrition and water needed to produce food that never ends up on a plate.
To ensure that we can satisfy the needs of a hungry planet without depleting its natural resources we need to reinvent how we look at food, food packaging and the food industry.
Smart and recyclable packaging
With a growing population and rapid urbanisation, smart and recyclable packaging for food is essential to a sustainable lifestyle. It is also vital to understand that packaging is the hero and not the villain when it comes to food waste.
So, in many ways the forest and its products can play a crucial role in making sure we are able to feed future generations.
By using climate-smart packaging made from renewable materials we can extend the shelf life of food, bringing us another step closer to a sustainable world.
Recycle the packaging and save the food
Every year, roughly a third of the food produced in the world for human consumption is lost or wasted, according to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Helén Williams, senior lecturer in Environment and Energy systems at Karlstad University, has carried out several studies showing that the problem is not the amount of packaging used in the food industry, as long as it is recycled.
