**8. Eco-packaging or sustainable packaging**

The packaging used in food provides benefits to society in many respects. Furthermore, by 2020, it is estimated that the number of packaged goods sold globally will reach 3.844 billion [45]. This number of available products tends to grow strongly in the coming decades, being an essential indicator in generating jobs, industrial growth, and demand for new technologies.

The use of packaging allows the marketing sector to leverage the market of a given brand, favoring the differentiation between products. It also has the role of educating and informing the consumer while protecting food during production, transportation, and acquisition. On the other hand, disposal can have negative consequences if made of unsustainable material [42]. SPC believes that new technologies will be more present and more affordable in the future, with the development of smart and ecofriendly packaging. This is why the packaging industry is considered a fast-growing sector that incorporates new packaging design techniques and innovation [45].

Now, in the process of being considered ecological or green, you must follow certain criteria. According to Sustainable Packaging Coalition [46] sustainable packaging needs to be:


To leverage the market for innovative and sustainable packaging, it is necessary to first study consumer behavior in order to identify the presence of ecological awareness at the time of purchase. This information is important for making an ecological map of how people treat the environment. According to Nguyen et al. [47], based on systematic reviews of 261 articles, the objective was to evaluate research on packaging ecodesign in the literature through three perspectives, positivism, interpretivism, and consumer transformative research. Nguyen apud Koenig-In Lewis et al. [47], an exploratory study of consumer behavioral assessment showed that purchase intention is significantly affected by consumer concerns about the environment. As people learn more about the environment, they end up wanting products that are better for them.

Nevertheless, it is logical that this sustainable behavior is quite vulnerable, that is, it is characterized by impotence and dependence. This is because it depends on particular situations, such as demographics, socioeconomics, and personal (age and gender). For consumers, these situations have a direct impact on their behavior [48]. Often, the lower the level of education or income power, the higher this vulnerability. The existing literature on research *on Transformative consumer research* (TCR) cited by Zeng et al. [48] is precisely the link between packaging and vulnerability. Some studies in the field of CRT have investigated the impacts of packaging innovation on vulnerable groups at risk, for example, older consumers or children, or even biological, psychological, and social factors. According to research conducted by Zeng et al. [48], there is a strong indication of a growing interest among researchers in topics related to sustainability and packaging innovation in the last 10 years. In relation to the CRT, the study points out three main topics addressed: consumer vulnerability, consumer health status, and sustainability.

With regard to the consumer of organic products, this vulnerability should be minimal considering that it is a niche market aimed at a consumer much more aware of the environment. There is little research on consumer perceptions of environmentally friendly packaging. In fact, environmentally friendly packaging has never been a clear concept in consumer behavior literature [48]. This point is corroborated by the fact that there are no metrics available in the databases consulted for this evaluation. Specific studies are needed to trace the behavior of consumers of organic products and their relationships in the face of the packaging used. These kinds of studies are very important for making producers aware of the right kinds of packaging to use.

#### **8.1 Eco-friendly packaging—global trends**

Some types of packaging, such as cardboard and glass, can even be considered sustainable as long as they are destined, after use, for recycling. However, they depend

on several factors. Users are not always educated to recycle garbage. Another factor that contributes to inadequate disposal is the absence of selective collection in some establishments, as well as the absence of effective educational campaigns. Cardboard, for example, could be used as compost in organic production.

With the lack of an adequate recycling process and environmental concerns, new materials have emerged that are considered eco-friendly or green packaging. Although the availability of propagation is still a faraway reality and it is not possible to trace a promising gift, the development of these new materials has grown significantly in the packaging sector. The market is expected to account for US \$29.7 billion by 2026 [49]. Still being a more costly technology, bio-based polymers are 20–100% more expensive than plastics derived from petroleum polymers, which still makes them a little less accessible to the food industry [34].

Moreover, unfortunately, it is observed that most of the time there is no concern, whether from industry or producers, about providing food in packaging made of sustainable raw materials of low degradation time in nature. Moreover, unfortunately, it is observed that most of the time there is no concern, whether from industry or producers, about providing food in packaging made of sustainable raw materials of low degradation time in nature [50]. Generally, the concern of this sector is to have packaging that ensures a longer shelf life of food, conserves its integrity and allows a greater shelf-life.

On the other hand, there is optimism, the result of environmental concern and climate change caused by the growing generation of household waste. Because of this, some industries that make things are looking for new materials that are better for the environment and keep the quality of food the same as plastics. Ordinary plastics can take 450–1000 years to decompose, causing harm to the ecosystem and affecting fauna and flora. Biodegradable plastics decompose on average 60% in 180 days [47, 48]. For this reason, packaging made of polymers considered "green" is the current major trend in the packaging industry. They can be used in various sectors, not only in food but also automobiles and toys, for example [49]. Green polymers are sustainable polymers of plant origin that during their synthesis or processing have fewer impacts on the environment. They are polymers whose raw materials are not of fossil origin but of renewable matter such as corn, sugarcane, or cellulose. Recycling a ton of green polymer bottles can save up to 1.5 tons of CO2 emissions. They can be recycled or reused, and even if discarded, they do not have a negative impact on the environment because they decompose with carbon-neutral emissions. As a denomination, these polymers are added to the word "green" after the citation of their nomenclature: PVC (polychloride vinyl) green, PP (polypropylene) green, PE (polyethylene) green [50].

Although they are environmentally correct, their production scale is still very small. This is because its cost is still expensive when compared to petroleum-processed polymers. Currently, the cost of biodegradable plastics varies from US\$ 2/kg to US\$ 2/kg as compared with that of traditional plastics, which is approximately, US\$ 1/ kg to US\$ 2/kg [49, 51].

It comprises this range of packaging of bioplastics or biopolymers or green polymers, those also made from algae, mushrooms, shrimp shells, organic waste, fibers, and vegetable resins etc. [52].

### **8.2 The importance of packaging being sustainable**

Consequently, the consumer of organic products plays a crucial role in this production chain, and their awareness of this role can encourage the shift in favor of Schumpeter's theory of creative destruction. To create a circular economy, people need to use packaging that is good for the environment.

According to van Herpen et al., it has become standard practice in many supermarkets in Europe to sell products without plastic wrapping in the fruit and vegetable section. The removal of packaging at the time of purchase is a recent trend looked [42]. In countries like Brazil, this reality is still difficult to find.

van Herpen et al.'s research [42] looked at whether removing the primary packaging of fruits and vegetables would encourage more people to buy them. Plastic might seem to go against the idea of a sustainable environment, which is why this is a big deal for organic fruits and vegetables. Consistent with the study's findings, the typical consumer prefers organic fruits and vegetables that are not packaged in plastic. However, the packaging is frequently associated with wastefulness and the "throwaway society" in the eyes of consumers.

Kafel et al. [35] evaluated the types of materials most commonly used in the European Community to package organic products. **Table 2** shows the results obtained by Kafel et al. [35].

Even though the data indicates that plastic packaging is used a little more than cardboard packaging, 58.7% (**Table 2**) is quite significant. The results of the study by Kafel et al. [35] indicate the high use of plastic in the food industry.

In order to have a fully functioning circular economy, it is necessary to guarantee the preservation of soil and water throughout the production chain and the product's life cycle.

Additionally, the materials indicated in **Table 2**, Styrofoam is a common material widely used by Brazilian manufacturers (**Figure 4**). **Figure 4** shows how organic products on store shelves are sold to customers.

Plastic, as seen in **Table 2**, is widely used and one of the agents responsible for the large amount of waste that remains in nature in the long term. It pollutes the soil, rivers, lakes, and oceans [54]. In addition, several animals lose their lives after consuming plastics found in nature waste by men. For this reason, consumers need to be increasingly informed and cautious when selecting products at the time of purchase. It is necessary to raise awareness of the way food is presented, and the kind of waste it will produce after consumption.

The use of plastic in the food sector is common, even for reasons of price, accessibility, and availability. Changing Kafel's data is a crucial issue.


#### **Table 2.**

*Materials used for packaging of organic products [35].*

**Figure 4.** *Brazilian organic products at the supermarket—photo by National Institute of Technology—INT [53].* *The Importance of Packaging in Certified Organic Food: A Matter of Conscience DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107408*

Finally, there is reason to believe that environmental preservation is gaining more supporters. More and more organic producers are realizing that the exponential rise in household trash is almost impossible to keep up with.
