Tag Archives: packaging

Food Packaging in the Limelight

Most of us hold a vague (or fervent) view that the less packaging the better. When it comes to food, though, it’s not as simple as that. On the one hand, packaged food prevents choice in the amount we buy, which can prompt overbuying (and waste). Then again, packaging can keep food fresher longer and […]

October 14, 2013 | Posted in General, International, Packaging, Storage, Technology | Comments closed

Packaging-Prevented Waste?

Starting in November, the Canadian food packaging industry will tackle food waste. Canadian-based, though North American in scope, The Packaging Association (PAC) announced plans on Monday to seek food waste solutions through packaging. Citing the global scope of waste (1/3 of global food wasted), PAC’s board of directors will launch the PAC Food Waste Initiative. […]

October 8, 2013 | Posted in International | Comments closed

Packaging Pros and Cons

I’ve been thinking a lot about packaging recently, as I’ve been writing something about Austin’s mostly packaging-free grocer, in.gredients. From a life-cycle assessment perspective, packaging is environmentally harmful. It’s just more stuff we’re using oil to create, often unnecessarily, that usually ends up in a landfill. Yet, it’s not that simple.  Smarter packaging could limit […]

May 16, 2013 | Posted in Waste Stream | Comments closed

Food Packaging: Lesser of Two Evils

With food packaging, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Too much, and you’re using unnecessary materials. Too little and you’re risking damaged food in transit and elsewhere. I suppose the ideal is going uber-local and bringing your own reusable containers like at Austin’s in.gredients (check out their incredible 6-month sustainability numbers). But until that sweeps […]

March 13, 2013 | Posted in Energy, Environment, International, Storage | Comments closed

You In?

A package-free, zero-waste, crowd-sourced grocery store is in the works in Austin? Holy hyphens! The store, In.gredients, will open at some point in 2011, as long as their funding outreach progresses. I’m excited to see this store come to fruition, as it seems like a model for other grocers to aim for. I have one small caveat, […]

June 29, 2011 | Posted in Supermarket | Comments closed