One of the most compelling topics the food and beverage industry has tackled in recent years is waste reduction. We’ve all seen the headlines on how much food is wasted. For example, estimates have reached 80 billion pounds per year in US landfills alone.
According to a consumer study conducted last spring by Sealed Air and Harris Poll, people are more concerned about food waste than water shortages, climate change and GMOs. While the study showed consumers have a greater awareness of how much food is wasted in the US, most American grocery shoppers don’t think they’re part of the problem. Though food packaging can play a role in preventing waste, the study found shoppers associate food packaging with safety more than waste. In fact, consumers reported they view discarded packaging as worse for the environment than food waste.