A new federal proposal to cut food waste in the U.S. could also benefit plastic packaging.
On June 12, President Joe Biden's administration announced the launch of an initiative to reduce the amount of edible food going to landfills through a series of projects, including finding ways to donate more food to those in need, encouraging composting programs and investing in packaging that can improve shelf life.
Protecting and prolonging the amount of time to use food safely has long been one of the key benefits of plastic packaging promoted by industry leaders. The announcement through the U.S. Department of Agriculture seems to acknowledge that in stating it would fund "research and development and new food loss and waste innovations, such as innovative new packaging technology and cultivars to extend the shelf life of food and prevent loss."
The project aims to cut food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030. It has few specifics so far in terms of funding, although it pledged $2.5 million toward messaging to consumers related to food waste and a new $1.5 million Center for Research, Behavioral Economics and Extension on Food Loss and Waste that would go toward research at land-grant universities.
Beyond feeding people, USDA says the project has another important environmental aspect, research showing that 58 percent of methane emissions released from landfills are from food waste.
"Each year in the U.S., food loss and waste create potent greenhouse gas pollutants equal to the missions of 60 coal-fired power plants," it noted.