Organic food production offers many advantages and is more environmentally friendly than conventional food. However, even though certification guarantees organic management, soil and water preservation, and social welfare, it generally does not evaluate the type of packaging in which food is sold. Legislation in some countries, such as Brazil, does not require the use of biodegradable packaging. Therefore, it is common to find organic foods sold in plastic or styrofoam containers, making them environmentally wrong throughout their life cycle.
This study demonstrates the importance of consumer awareness and how consumers can act in a global paradigm shift, demanding greater environmental responsibilities from those who produce food. In addition, the role of consumers, who play their role as non-polluting agents, is essential for ecological well-being. A qualitative meta-analysis showed that, while green consumers are gradually increasing, they are still a minority. For the time being, they are currently insufficient to generate significant changes in the production chain.
Therefore, it is important that public, technological and environmental institutions talk more about these issues and begin to request specific laws on the correct way to use packaging, especially for certified organic foods. Structurally, the packaging of these preservative-free items must include barrier properties to protect against product degradation. Specific studies are needed to track the behavior of consumers of organic products and their relationships with the packaging used. In the field of packaging applications, the material can be used to create rigid thermoformed structures, films, labels and bottles.
Nowadays, people are looking for clean, natural products and expect them to come in packages that include these items. For the time being, they are not yet sufficient to generate significant changes in the production chain and to integrate organic production into the circular economy cycle. Once certified, the organic product must receive the certification seal of each country on its label, which guarantees the purchaser its legitimacy and reliability. In almost every country, demand for organic food has increased exponentially in recent years.
As organic production is based on the preservation of soil and water, it is not acceptable, therefore, its consumption generates polluting household waste. Organic food production is much better for the environment than monocultures or systems that use a large amount of pesticides. Nowadays, it is unacceptable to accept that organic food is sold in non-biodegradable packaging, harmful to ecosystems. There are not many policies that regulate the interaction between products and packaging in the food and beverage industry.
The reasons include the chemical stability of glass; even for hot-fill applications such as Solana Gold, glass containers are inert. While it guarantees long-term environmental conservation and mitigates the effects of climate change, the purpose of organic production, as established in the laws of several countries, is to offer products free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and intentional pollutants. Even if the scenario is not ideal, developments in the food market, changes in customer preferences and the balance between food quality, protection and environmental impact have led to new packaging requirements over time. Many items that use organic packaging indicate this somewhere on the box or product, informing consumers about the company's sustainable efforts.
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