Report: Food Waste and Plastic Packaging
Zero Waste Europe and Friends of the Earth Europe
Terms of Reference, 2nd May 2017
Executive summary
Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) and Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) wish to carry out new
research on single-use plastic packaging and its role in preventing food waste.
The focus will be on primary and secondary plastic packaging for fruit, vegetables and
other plastic packaged food items consumed in Europe and of high potential to be
wasted (to be identified by consultants together with ZWE and FoEE), and debunk
claims that more packaging is the answer to less food waste. The research will take a
holistic systems-approach when examining the trade-offs between plastic packaging
and food waste, moving beyond the narrow focuses of much research in this area thus
far.
We want to show what is possible – shifting to more sustainable, healthy, localised
food systems where both packaging and food waste are at a minimum, and show what
policy recommendations at the EU level can enable this. In addition, a key aim of this
new research is to influence the EU Strategy on Plastic in a Circular Economy, due to
be released in December 2017. We want to challenge the narrative that packaging is
essential to prevent food waste and mainstream the idea that plastic packaging is
unnecessary, when there are alternatives that work.
The two deliverables will be a report of approximately 20 pages with concrete policy
recommendations, which will be written in English and in a non-technical, clear and
understandable way, using graphs, maps, infographics, real-life examples and other
images where possible (simple format as designers will create a common layout), and
second, a longer (10-15 pages) Annex document to accompany the report which will
contain the data, technical information, justifications etc. to backup claims and
research in the report. The deliverables are to be completed by mid-September 2017.
The organisations
Zero Waste Europe is the only pan-European organisation specialising in waste and
sustainability issues from redesign and prevention to disposal. Our vision is a world
without waste. To accomplish our vision ZWE is working to empower communities to
rethink their relationship with resources. ZWE has 22 members in 20 countries and
manages a network of over 350 municipalities. ZWE’s staff, board members and
scientific committee is composed of the leading European experts and scientists in the
field of Zero Waste. ZWE has strong experience in framing and placing new narratives
for change, a good example of which is the current Circular Economy Package which
since before 2014 has been drawing a great deal of its narrative from the zero waste
network.
Friends of the Earth Europe is the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe,
uniting 32 national organisations and thousands of local groups. We are the European
arm of Friends of the Earth International which unites 74 national member
organisations, some 5000 local activist groups, and over two million supporters around
the world. We campaign on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues,
challenging the current model of economic and corporate globalization, and promoting
solutions that will help to create environmentally sustainable and socially just
societies. We seek to increase public participation and democratic decision-making.
We work towards environmental, social, economic and political justice and equal
access to resources and opportunities on the local, national, regional and international
levels.
This research report is part of an extensive 3-year project aiming to realise robust EU
legislation to reduce plastic pollution. This project is the European branch of the global
Break Free from Plastic campaign, with ZWE as European coordinators and FoEE and
several other European NGOs as project partners.
Background
Packaging is the world's largest plastics sector, making up about one quarter of overall
production1. It appears as convenient food-wrappings, milk cartons, shopping bags,
and water bottles and is thus largely incorporated into our daily routines. However,
plastic packaging has a very short lifetime – often in mere minutes of use it is
discarded – the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that 95% of plastic packaging
material value is lost to the economy after its first use.
Yet the world recycles just 14% of plastic packaging 2, the rest ending up in landfills,
incinerators, and often, our oceans 3. Despite these disturbing facts, plastic packaging
shows the highest growth in terms of applications, due to its lightweight and flexible
properties, the fact it suits our fast-paced, convenience-driven lifestyles, and
globalisation of the food market, amongst others.
At the same time, the average European citizen generates 110 kg of food waste both
at home and outside the home each year 4. Fruit, vegetables and bakery items are the
foods most commonly thrown away, with one-quarter of avoidable food waste
disposed of in its packaging5. The food and drink industry cite difficulty with
disaggregating food and packaging waste 6.
While supermarkets used to focus on curbing the amount of packaging they use, many
now consider extending food shelf life the most important environmental
consideration. Indeed, packaging is part of the solution to avoid food waste but it is
also a part model supporting overconsumption and a single-use society that creates a
huge amount of waste. It is often superfluous and causes an unnecessary use of
1 https://www.boell.de/sites/default/files/stopping-global-plastic-pollution.pdf
2 Ellen MacArthur Foundation, The New Plastics Economy, 2016
3 Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016
4 Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016
5 WRAP, The Food We Waste, 2008
6 European Commission DG ENV, Preparatory Study on Food Waste Across EU 27, 2010
natural resources – the embodied full environmental costs of packaging rarely
expressed in the final price of the product.
Many industry claims and own-research, for example, that up to ten times more
resources (materials, energy, water) are used to make and distribute food than are
used to make the plastic packaging that protects it 7, are causing the greenwashing of
plastic packaging. These studies often present over-optimistic LCA data, the disclosure
of only some product or material properties (and the deliberate omission of others and
not looking at options offered by e.g. package free stores), and in promotion of
packaging, the use of logos and texts using letter fonts and colours that evoke
associations with nature8. See figure below on claims by the Flexible Packaging
Association.
Furthermore, EU policies and the policies of European retailers often promote the use
of packaging or indirectly lead to the need to use a certain type, such as policies on
cosmetic standards and labelling. A report in 2015 found that in order for green beans
imported from Kenya to fit in a certain size plastic package, up to 40% of the beans
were wasted during trimming and with 100% of the farmers and exporters interviewed
in the research believing that rejections were the result of actions taken by European
importers and retailers9.
Objectives and description of work
We wish to carry out new research on primary and secondary single-use plastic
packaging for fruit, vegetables and other plastic packaged food items consumed in
Europe and of high potential to be wasted (to be identified by consultants together
with ZWE and FoEE), and debunk claims that more packaging is the answer to less
food waste. The research is to be culminated in a written report (see more info below)
7 Plastics make it possible project https://www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com/innovation-of-the-week/
8 University of Wageningen, Biobased Packaging Catalogue, 2015
9 Feedback, Food Waste in Kenya, 2015
and will take a holistic systems-approach when examining the trade-offs between
plastic packaging and food waste.
Some overall main messages and underlying questions could be:

Building evidence on the correlation between long supply chains and packaging
waste, and showing that local production and consumption, among other
benefits (e.g. social), also reduces the need for packaging. For example, what
would be the impact on plastic packaging use if food supply chains were
shortened by, for instance, 50%?

The need to account for the long-term impacts of single-use plastics – they have
a short use life but long presence in the environment when disposed of

Health impacts of plastic packaging used for food – including looking at the loss
of nutrients the longer food is packaged and the leaching of plastics into food

What roles our current lifestyles, EU and retail regulations and economic and
industry interests play. For example, how do food losses to fit aesthetics and
retailer standards compare to avoided losses claimed by plastic packaging
industry?

Is an indirect effect of having so much packaged food that people buy too much
or forget what they have and in the end waste more food?

Did people waste as much food when plastic packaging didn’t exist?

Is there any evidence that extended shelf life claimed by packaging industry
also happens at household level through single-use plastic primary packaging
(and not only in retail store)?

If more packaging allows a longer lifespan of the product, it means that it will be
stored longer and as for some products the biggest part of the carbon footprint
is not from the product itself or the packaging, but from the energy used for
storage (e.g. fridge/freezer). What is the correlation between expanding lifespan
and increasing energy use?
A key aim of this new research is to influence the EU Strategy on Plastic in a Circular
Economy by ensuring a main focus of the strategy is on reducing unnecessary singleuse plastics and considering bans and other measures to phase out toxic, nonrecyclable or problematic plastics for which alternatives exist. In this sense, we wish to
create robust policy recommendations for the EU level. We would like strong, catchy
and influential facts and figures to challenge the narrative on these issues and debunk
the idea that packaging is essential to reduce food waste and preserve resources.
We also wish to look extensively at alternatives to producing and consuming which will
both reduce the amount of food wasted and the amount of plastic packaging used. We
wish to merge with ideas such as food sovereignty, and health and social issues. These
alternatives could include:

alternatives to disposable single-use
reusable/recyclable materials

relocalising food systems
plastics
such
as
smarter,
more

package free shops – research shows they can reduce packaging by up to 70% 10
and also reduce food waste as you buy what you need

box schemes – as they include those non-standard products that would be
discarded from conventional chains11 and generally use less packaging12
Deliverables
The consultants will have two deliverables:
1. A written report, targeted at policy makers and citizens, of approximately 20
pages in a format which will be outlined by ZWE and FoEE. The language of this
report will be English and it should be non-technical, focused on (innovative)
policy recommendations, clear and understandable by both interested citizens
and policy makers.
2. A longer (10-15 pages), more technical document with solid scientific data and
justifications to back-up new research and claims. This can be done in the form
of an Annex document.
The consultants will use graphs, maps, infographics, real-life examples and other
images when possible. Figures can be in basic format as the report designers will
create a common layout and design for all figures. Raw data must be made available
for all relevant figures.
The findings of the report will be used by ZWE and FoEE to contribute to the objectives
of the European plastics project.
Timing
As the aim of this research report is to influence the EU Strategy on Plastic in a
Circular Economy, due to be released in December 2017, we would like to have this
report completed by mid-September 2017 (including time for designers to lay it out) in
order to have influencing capacity.
Indicative work programme
31 May 2017
Work to commence by
5 June 2017
First
31 July 2017
Work to be completed by
September 2017
draft
by
11
A more precise work programme, including a deadline for a full draft, for
internal/external reviews etc., can be agreed before signing a contract, and modified
as needed throughout the five months. Milestones will be agreed between the
consultants and the relevant ZWE and FoEE staff.
Monitoring and management
10 WRAP, An introduction to Packaging and Recyclability, 2009
11 Lamine C, Settling shared uncertainties: local partnership between producers and consumers, 2005
12 F.Galli, G.Brunori (FoodLinks project), Short Food Supply Chains as Drivers of Sustainable Development,
2013
The main points of contact for the consultants will be:
 Delphine Lévi Alvarès, European coordinator of the #BreakFreeFromPlastic
movement at ZWE [email protected]
 Meadhbh Bolger, Resource justice campaigner at FoEE
[email protected]
ZWE and FoEE may assemble an Advisory Group. This group of individuals will assist in
the guidance and monitoring of the work, and will provide feedback and suggestions
to FoEE staff and the consultants.
The consultants might be expected to join some of the Advisory Group meetings over
the phone. However, the Advisory Group will not have the authority to issue
instructions directly to the consultants.