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~ Ranpak ~

THE PLASTIC PROBLEM IS IMPACTING

THE FOOD WE EAT

Text: Ranpak // Photos: Ranpak

icroplastics don’t belong in food. A more sustainable future for the cold chain.
The invention of cheap and pliable plastics led to The cold chain refers to temperature-controlled logistics
Ma huge boom in their everyday use through the networks that cover a broad range of products that
latter half of the 20th century. Although they quickly became require climate control during transport. The consumer-
a part of everyday life, new awareness of the danger plastic facing cold chain includes direct-to-home shipments of
presents to human health and the environment has become groceries, prepared foods, and meal kits. More often than
ever clearer. If current trends in plastic production persist, not, common packaging solutions used in the cold chain
the Ellen McArthur Foundation predicts that the ocean will include insulated foil bags, EPS containers, as well as
contain more plastic than fish by weight by 2050. By 2025, chemical-based cool packs with fully plastic liners.
there may already be one tonne of plastic in the ocean for
every three tonnes of fish. While arguably effective, the environmental risks created
by these solutions run high due to their composition
Due to the amount of time, it takes for plastic to break as a single-use material that is difficult or impossible
down and degrade, plastic pollution has infiltrated every to recycle curbside; ultimately adding to our growing
part of the environment. This has led to the proliferation landfills. As plastic breaks down into microplastics, there
of “microplastics,” which are the small particles of plastic is a chance that they will eventually re-enter the food
that result from the breakdown of manmade plastic supply as contaminants. The irony of materials assigned to
materials. Because these particles get smaller and smaller protect food eventually contributing to the proliferation of
as they degrade but microplastics highlights
“THE IRONY OF MATERIALS ASSIGNED
do not truly disappear, the growing need for
microplastic particles sustainable packaging,
TO PROTECT FOOD EVENTUALLY
have entered every especially in cold chain.
environment on the While not limited to the
globe, even showing CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROLIFERATION cold chain, a packaging
up in Arctic ice and OF MICROPLASTICS HIGHLIGHTS THE model that is compatible
drifting through the with the circular economy
GROWING NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE
deepest parts of the can help contribute to the
oceans. safety and quality of our
PACKAGING” food supply, human health,
More concerning and the environment
still, microplastics overall.
are appearing in the
food chain, including within plants and animals, which Beyond the science, consumer sentiment also points to
means they’re also impacting human health. New research sustainable solutions being the future of cold chain food
estimates that the average person consumes roughly a packaging. A 2023 McKinsey report found that consumer
credit card worth of plastic every week. The prevalence sentiment around sustainability is increasing, with
of plastic is so strong that they have even been measured awareness of environmental challenges including ocean
in our blood and are found within the digestive systems litter and pollution holding attention around the world.
of newborn babies. Although the ways that microplastics In particular, consumers are looking at compostable and
can impact our health are not yet fully understood, one plant-based packaging, with high recognition of paper as
thing is clear: it is vital that plastic be kept out of the food a substrate. Paper packaging is well-positioned to solve
that we consume and the food supply chain. Fortunately, some of the major challenges of cold chain shipping while
alternatives to plastic already exist, and can provide the helping address plastic pollution.
protective qualities that are needed to ship food products
while dramatically improving the circularity of secondary
packaging.

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