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Edible packaging: A sustainable solution for the future
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Thursday, 11 April, 2024, 12 : 00 PM [IST]
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Ismail Sutaria
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Since plastic was invented, it has been the number one material used for packaging products, goods, or any material. It is a cost-effective option that is lightweight and easy to transport, which makes it usable on a mass scale. Plastic is being overtly exploited to the point where it has become an environmental hazard due to its large-scale use. Plastic, despite its many advantages for packaging, is a non-biodegradable product, which means it cannot be decomposed in the environment naturally.
Anything that is used on such a large scale but cannot be naturally disposed of naturally, leads to excess waste and hazardous implications on the environment. To combat this rising trend of pollution due to over-ambitious use of plastic, a sustainable alternative is the need of the hour. Edible packaging can be seen as a viable packaging solution to combat the use of plastic. Over the years, research and development by packaging companies have presented the packaging industry with sensible edible packaging.
Edible packaging offers consumers a practical substitute for traditional plastic food packaging using renewable and biodegradable materials. Edible packaging is suitable for consumption made up of naturally occurring biodegradable materials and doesn't require sorting, assembly, recycling, or disposal. Edible films and coatings are very thin layers of material that the consumer can swallow as a component of the entire food product. Edible packaging is defined as any form of packaging that is consumed with food and is an essential component of the food, such as a sheet, film, thin layer, or coating. It is a biopolymer made to be able to biodegrade similarly to the food it contains while also containing and shielding the food from deterioration. Edible films and coatings, being food ingredients, often need to be as tasteless as possible to remain undetectable when consuming the edible-packaged food item. The sensory qualities of edible films and coatings complement the food when having a notable or distinct taste and flavour.
Here are some of the Edible packaging options available on the market:
Edible Straws:
Straws that are edible and devoid of plastic are used for chilled beverages. While some are manufactured without sugar, others are made with rice. Companies are starting to sell edible straws as an alternative to paper or plastic straws. They are available in various tastes, and the straw can be eaten when the drink is finished. These straws will decompose more easily as a waste product than other non-edible substitutes, even if customers choose not to consume them.
Edible Coffee Cups:
Edible coffee cups substitute for paper or plastic cups that are thrown away after use. They are made from ingredients such as cookies glazed with chocolate, vanilla, or caramel glaze. The drinks' flavors are unaffected by edible coffee cups, and they do not retain heat. Additionally, moisture does not affect the cup's structure until about an hour after serving the beverage.
Edible Spoons:
A common composition of edible spoons is rice, sorghum, and wheat. They're excellent substitutes for plastic cutlery. The edible spoons' resilience comes from sorghum, which keeps them from disintegrating during meals. Additionally, they remain intact when used to agitate liquids. Edible spoons can also be made with different flour and seasonings, such as herbs and spices. They come in a range of flavors and are perfect for eating a wide variety of dishes.
Candy Wrappers:
Another excellent material for edible packaging is rice wafer paper. It can be eaten with candies and is commonly used to wrap different kinds of sweets and chocolates. Rice paper eliminates waste from plastic or wax paper wrappers and keeps pollutants out of the sweets, making it safe. It goes well with chocolate, caramel, and hard candies, among other treats.
The food and beverage category led the sustainable packaging sector in 2021 with a market share of about 80%, and this trend is expected to hold. Edible packaging is frequently used in the food and beverage sector to package various food products, such as dairy products, fresh food, infant food, bakery and confectionery, and functional food additives. Because of shifting lifestyles and increased processed food consumption globally, the market for edible packaging is also projected to increase its share.
The edible packaging market is expected to grow at a notable CAGR of 14.31% over a forecast period of 2023 to 2033, from $1.10 billion in 2023 to $4.18 billion by 2033. Because biodegradable packaging may enable safe and hygienic transportation of edible packaged food, there is a growing global demand for it, and packaging innovations are driving this rapid development. Numerous dominant dynamic forces are causing the landscape to change staggeringly, according to Future Market Insights.
Edible food packaging has many advantages, but it also has some disadvantages. The primary problem with a lot of edible packaging is that it dissolves easily in water and has a lower shelf life than other types of packaging. Another important thing to think about when using edible food packaging is allergies. Those who have dietary allergies to natural materials may be unable to consume the package because of its natural elements. Therefore, these edible packages might not be appropriate for every company, depending on the product's packaging and how it is stored and shipped.
To solve the sustainability problem, edible packaging is a great solution and often the best one for the food and beverages market. Companies strive to get the perfect packaging for every product according to size, taste, and shelf life. Going forward, edible packaging will be the go-to solution for companies with strict environmental guidelines and regulations coming into place. It is a massive contribution to the environmental cause as manufacturing, processing, transporting, and shipping plastic is eliminated. With more and more businesses adapting to edible packaging solutions, companies in this space will be encouraged to bring efficient and more advanced products frequently.
(The author is lead consultant at Packaging and Materials)
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