Single-use plastic take-away food packaging and its alternatives

Single-use plastic take-away food packaging and its alternatives

Published October 2020

This report summarises knowledge about the environmental impact of single-use plastic packaging for take-away food and alternatives that could potentially replace it. Takeaway food is interpreted as food that is sold for immediate consumption after purchase and is consumed away from the food outlet (e.g., home, work, street). Different types of food take-away packaging are used today, for example:

  • food boxes,
  • containers,
  • clamshells,
  • trays,
  • crates and food savers.

The report also discusses implications of this knowledge for policy makers and other actors aiming at reducing the environmental impact of single-use food packaging.

The report is based on a meta-analysis of six life cycle assessment (LCA) studies as well as reflections on five additional studies

publication year

Data and Methods

Life cycle assessment

Document type

Meta-study

Language

English

Sector or product area

Packaging, Plastics, Single-use plastic products