Americans waste a shocking amount of food every year – up to 40 percent of all food produced in the U.S. goes uneaten, according to the USDA.
Yet, a recent survey sponsored by Plastics Make it Possible® indicates that a 91 percent of Americans say preventing food waste is “very important.” Part of the problem may be that less than 1 in 5 Americans (18 percent) is aware of a very effective and affordable tool for helping reduce food waste, and it’s already available for many grocery store items: plastic packaging.
Innovative, modern plastic packaging helps protect food products from microbes, moisture and other invasive agents, offering an affordable solution to keeping food fresh longer.
Take for example, “salad-in-a-bag.” The plastic packaging reduces exposure to oxygen by sealing the food in a package that contains a mixture of gases in controlled proportions that slow spoilage, thus helping reduce food waste.
The choices we make at the grocery store can reduce food waste. A small amount of plastic packaging can help foods last significantly longer and, in the process, reduce costs and our carbon footprint.
Published in the January 2018 Edition
