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