Reuse principle for primary packaging circularity in the food system

Most of the plastic produced is only used once and is not recovered after its use phase, thus ending up as wasted material. Plastic in packaging is a challenging material. It accounts for a large amount of the plastic usage, and parts of it end up in nature after use, polluting masses of water and land. Furthermore its production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Plastic is however also one of the materials that contribute most to extending food shelf life and avoiding food waste. Packaging in the food system accomplishes several functions, but the benefits of the current system are also undermined by the linearity with which materials are approached. Opportunities to address the challenges posed by plastics may be found within the principles of a circular economy. The overall goal of this article is to explore how the circular economy reuse principle can transform the mainstream food system in order to reduce plastic waste from primary packaging. This paper reviews literature about the current mainstream food system, the functions fulfilled by food packaging, business models and design strategies relevant for the implementation of a circular economy based on reuse. It synthesizes existing knowledge that complements literature on the food and packaging systems through different reuse models. The discussion section suggests what a reuse system could entail, as well as its benefits and drawbacks. Reuse is presented as a plausible strategy to minimize waste and energy use by creating long-life products that can slow down the production of new material. This is a claim that can be tested empirically in further research in addition to testing other aspects such as logistics, consumer adoption and alternative ways of fulfilling the main functions of packaging.