
Elsevier, Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume 254, 15 February 2021
This short communication describes the climate change impacts of using cellulose, and more precisely cellulosic fiber-based materials, in food packaging, representing current and emerging industrial state of the art technology, without specific reference to current scientific advances. First, the different types of cellulosic fiber-based packaging materials, which can be used to replace fossil-based packaging materials, are presented for flexible and rigid applications. The focus is on technological solutions with packaging properties that enable the protection of commonly sold food products. The manufacturing processes associated with these cellulosic fiber-based materials is described and the environmental impact assessment of 4 selected case studies presented: stand-up pouches, flexible flow wraps, frozen or chilled food trays, and molded pulp lids. A simplified eco-design Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was then performed to compare each solution with its fossil-based counterpart. Differences and similarities between the various cellulosic solutions have been identified. Furthermore, the assessment confirms that cellulosic fiber-based materials have reduced environmental impacts as compared to fossil-based counterparts, if a similar packaging weight is obtained. Indeed, all impacts of plastics are between 3 and 5 kg CO2eq/kg, while all impacts of cellulosic fiber-based materials are below 1.5 kg CO2eq/kg.
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Keywords:
Carbon Emission; Cellulose; Cellulosic Fibers; Chemistry; Chilled Foods; Climate Change; Climate Change Impact; Communication; Comparative Study; Environment; Environmental Impact; Environmental Impact Assessments; Food; Food Handling; Food Packaging; Food Products; Food Technology; Life Cycle; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Manufacturing Process; Packaging; Packaging Materials; Paper; Plastic; Plastics; Procedures; Pulp; Pulp Materials; Recycling; Reduction; Scientific Advances; Solutions; State-of-the-art Technology; Technological Solution; Textile Fibers; Global