The Impact of Food Packaging: How to Make Sustainable Choices

Take a look at your fridge, your surrounded by packaging. Plastic containers, cardboard boxes, aluminium cans, glass jars. It’s everywhere. You might be wondering: does all this packaging really matter? In short, yes, and the impact is bigger than most of us realize. 

Let’s start with how it affects us directly. The chemicals in food packaging can leach into what we eat and drink. BPA, phthalates, and other additives commonly found in plastic containers have been linked to hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and increased cancer risk. When you heat food in plastic containers or store acidic foods in them, the chemical transfer increases significantly. 

Now onto how plastic affects our planet. Food packaging makes up about 70% of all packaging waste, and much of it isn’t recyclable despite what those symbols suggest. That yogurt container you toss in the recycling bin? There’s a good chance it’s ending up in a landfill. Plastic packaging can take hundreds of years to decompose, and even when it does break down, it becomes microplastics that contaminate our soil and water systems. 

With all this said, you don’t need to completely change your kitchen overnight. Small, practical changes can make a real difference. Choose products packaged in glass or cardboard over plastic. Glass jars can be reused countless times, and cardboard is far more likely to actually get recycled. Remember that pasta sauce in a glass jar from last week, well it’s now storage for your chicken noodle soup. 

When you can, buy in bulk. Large containers usually use less packaging per serving than individual portions. A big container of yogurt with your own small containers for portions creates less waste than buying individual cups. Plus, you’ll save money, sometimes significantly. 

Bring your own containers. Many grocery stores now allow you to use your own containers for deli items, bulk goods, and even some prepared foods. A few glass containers in your shopping bag can eliminate a lot of plastic packaging. 

Read the recycling codes. Not all plastics are created equal. Codes 1,2, and 5 are most likely to actually get recycled, while 3, 6, and 7 often end up in landfills even if you put them in your recycling bin. 

The reality is that completely avoiding packaged foods isn’t practical for most families. You’re not expected to make your own crackers or grow all your own vegetables. The goal is to be more intentional is to be more intentional about the packaging you bring home. Look for brands that are switching to compostable packaging, or using recycled materials. 

Making these changes is for you. It often leads to eating fresher, less processed foods. When you buy loose produce instead of pre-packaged, you’re getting vegetables that are often fresher and last longer. When you choose items with minimal packaging, you’re choosing products with fewer preservatives and additives. 

Once you start questioning why everything needs to be individually wrapped, you begin to see how much packaging is purely marketing. Your family’s health is worth the effort, right? 

Meet Mori Foods: If you’re looking for brands that are truly rethinking food packaging check out Mori Foods. While not available on store shelves, you may see its effects in the produce or meat aisle, as more food producers and retailers start using it to cut down on waste and packaging. They’ve developed an edible, invisible coating made from natural silk protein that helps fresh foods last longer, without plastic.  

The packaging problem won’t fix itself, but our everyday choices as consumers send a message. When that message is matched with pressure on companies and policymakers, real change can follow. 

To summarize:

• Choose glass or cardboard packaging over plastic when possible
  (Glass is reusable, and cardboard is more widely recycled.)

• Reuse glass jars for leftovers, dry goods, or pantry organization

• Buy in bulk to reduce packaging per serving and save money

• Use your own containers at grocery stores for deli, bulk, or prepared items

• Avoid heating food in plastic to reduce chemical leaching

• Check recycling codes

  • Recycle: Plastics labeled #1, #2, and #5

  • Avoid: Plastics labeled #3, #6, and #7 (less likely to be recycled)

• Buy loose produce instead of pre-packaged for fresher, less processed food

• Support brands using compostable or recycled packaging (like Mori Foods)

• Push for change by choosing better packaging and supporting policy reform