Abstract
The environmental issues associated with food packaging are of concern to the consumer. Pressure groups within the UK are influential and large supermarket chains are becoming involved in the issues of recycling by the placement of collection containers outside their stores. However, as has been observed with certain materials, collection costs can be far greater than the potential market for these materials.
The consumer perception of what packaging does for the product andhow it can be recycled varies depending on the understanding of theenvironmental problem by the consumer.
Within the UK there have been a large number of public initiatives relating to the recycling, reuse and disposal of packaging, such as RECOUP, Save-A-Can and others. Food packaging contributes approximately 66% to the waste stream and potentially creates the biggest problem regarding recycling.
Legislation is being proposed both on a national basis and on an ECwide basis which will have an effect on use, packaging, the environment,and inter-community trade.
The food industry is being pushed into making decisions regarding recycling of food packaging based on insufficient information supplied by different sectors of the packaging industry. The potential of ‘life cycle analysis’ properly co-ordinated should be able to aid the ‘environmental’ impact of packaging and guide industry towards making the correct decision.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Paine, F. (1975) What Packaging Means to the Ouality of Life. Packaging Technology and Management, 21(137), 4.
SEMA Group. (1992) Materials in municipal solid waste in western Europe. Financial Times, 28 May.
CAMPDEN (1992) NEWS: Packaging. August.
Thomas, C. (1974) Material Gains - Reclamation, Recycling and Reuse. Friends of the Earth, p. 2.
Guise, W. (1992) Packaging in Cans and Tins. Packaging, 63(692), 4.
Gooding, K. (1992) UK Aluminium Recycling Rate Increases to 16 Percent. Financial Times, 5 August.
Gallagher, R. (1990) Recycle, Reuse and Disposal - Solutions. In proceedings of symposium, Heat Processed Foods in Plastic Containers, CAMPDEN, 26–27 November.
Anon (undated) Paper and Board Packaging - Fact Sheet. Pulp and Paper Information Centre.
Thornhill, J. (1992) Paper Recycling Undetermined by Cheap German Imports. Financial Times, 10 August.
Anon (1990) The ‘Sutton’ Model Scheme for Glass Recycling. Report on Trial Period. United Glass, April.
Anon (1992) Bring Back the ‘Bring Back’. Friends of the Earth Briefing Sheet, April, p. 4.
Birley, D. (1991) Blue Box Annual Review - Sheffield Kerbside Project November 1989- November 1990. Recycling City Ltd, April.
Pidgeon, R. (1992) Waste will be sold to Japan in council deal. Packaging Week, 8(15),1.
Anon (undated) Getting Better All the Time. Recoup News, Issue 4, p. 5.
Anon (undated) Green Choice - Land Pollution and Waste Disposal. Tesco Stores Ltd.
Council Directive 89/109/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the Approximation of the Laws of the Member States Relating to Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Foodstuffs. Article 2.
McEwan, J. and Bond. S. Viewpoint - Packaging and the Consumer. CAMPDEN.unpublished report.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Campbell, A.J. (1994). The recycling, reuse and disposal of food packaging materials: a UK perspective. In: Mathlouthi, M. (eds) Food Packaging and Preservation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2173-0_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2173-0_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5909-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2173-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive