A group of industry non-profits as well as non-governmental groups has formed The Alliance for Sustainable Packaging for Foods (ASPF) with the intention to collaborate with world governments and regulators in pursuit of an environmentally sustainable, safe regulations for food packaging.
ASPF is aiming to ensure the public’s health and safety by ensuring food safety as well as keep the supply chain’s footprint on the environment low as it develops new guidelines regarding sustainable food packaging.
The alliance focuses on engagement with current EU talks on The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and Canada’s advancements in regulation of packaging including the P2.
In addition, the company has published a position paper looking at peer-reviewed studies on the compromises between the safety of food and the packaging.
The group’s founder members are Aneberries; Canadian Produce Marketing Association; FMI – The Food Industry Association; Fruit South Africa; Frutas de Chile; International Fresh Produce Association; National Milk Producers Federation; National Council of Farmers Coops; National Wooden Pallet and Container Association; North American Meat Institute; Organic Trade Association; Reusable Packaging Association The the STOP foodborne Illness; U.S. Dairy Export Council; and Western Growers Association.
“When we discuss how packaging will evolve in the near future food safety and quality, food safety as well as reducing loss of food and waste is a must,” declared Max Teplitski, PhD., IFPA chief science officer and chair of ASPF. “Members of ASPF agree that We are determined to dramatically decreasing the amount of packaging we waste, but not at the cost of the safety of food products. We are determined to work in partnership with policy makers and regulators across the globe to accomplish the same.
“We have to consider the impact of the whole duration of the use of packaging whilst ensuring food safety and solving phytosanitary concerns. The aim the ASPF is to identify possibilities for collaboration across all global actors to develop a comprehensive and consistent policy on packaging regulations that reflects and account for the most important outcomes that are essential to sustainable food supply.”
Todd Hoff, executive vice president of the Reusable Packaging Association and vice chair of ASPF added: “Sustainable packaging solutions for food products, like reused packaging, could result in superior protection for food products and performance in temperature control as well as ensuring food safety and safety while also reducing the amount of waste.
“The Reusable Packaging Association values the opportunity to join this broad-based industry grouping to help support the transition to recycling systems that are more circular as well as ensuring that food products are of the highest requirements. We’re looking forward to working together with other leaders in the field to prove the sustainability of packaging as well as cost-effective and efficient without sacrificing.”
For more information: packagingeurope.com