article · Journal of Environmental Management
Single-use plastic waste from the food and beverage industry represents an escalating environmental threat, largely driven by a growing global population and a traditional take, make, use, and dispose linear economic model. Current projections suggest an alarming rise in plastic generation by 2050 if prevailing manufacturing and disposal habits remain unchanged. Adopting a circular economy model provides a practical framework to address this crisis by prioritising resource retention, waste recovery, and the lengthening of product lifecycles. Effective strategies under this model centre on the widespread recycling and reuse of plastic waste within the sector. Achieving a sustainable transition requires concerted global collaboration alongside the proactive implementation of supportive government and industry policies to drastically cut the environmental footprint of food and beverage packaging.
Plastic packaging from food and drinks often ends up in ecosystems, creating long-term environmental hazards. As consumer numbers rise, shifting away from disposable packaging towards durable reuse and effective recycling models protects natural resources. Understanding circular alternatives helps businesses, policymakers, and communities collaborate on practical measures that prevent mountains of packaging waste from accumulating over the coming decades.
The work highlights operational and recycling frameworks intended for businesses in the food and beverage sector and waste processing organisations. Because it is a review of overarching principles, recycling strategies, and policy requirements rather than an evaluation of a specific technology or product, it represents early conceptual guidance. Practical implementation would require packaging developers and manufacturers to design recyclable or reusable alternatives alongside investments in industrial collection and recovery systems.
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The escalating threat of plastic pollution necessitates urgent and immediate action, particularly within the food and beverage (F&B) industry, a significant contributor to single-use plastic waste (SUP). As the global population surges, so does the consumption of single-use plastics in the F&B sector, perpetuating a linear economy model characterized by a 'take, make, use, dispose’ approach. This model significantly exacerbates plastic waste issues, with projections indicating an alarming increase in plastic outputs by 2050 if current practices continue. Against this backdrop, the circular economy presents a viable alternative, with its emphasis on resource retention, recovery, and the extension of product lifecycles. This study delves into the problems posed by single-use plastics, introduces the circular economy as a sustainable model, and explores effective strategies for the recycling and reuse of plastic waste within this framework. By examining the environmental impact of SUP in the F&B sector and advocating for the adoption of circular economy principles, this paper underscores a critical pathway towards sustainable solutions in the battle against plastic pollution. In conclusion, the transition to a circular economy, underpinned by global collaboration and the proactive implementation of supportive policies, is imperative for reducing the environmental footprint of single-use plastics and fostering a sustainable future. • Urgent need to address single-use plastic (SUP) waste in food & beverage industry due to escalating threat. • Growing global population drives linear 'take, make, use, dispose’ model, exacerbating plastic waste. • Alarming predictions for SUP output by 2050 necessitate shift to circular economy approach. • Circular economy emphasises resource retention, recovery, and extended product lifecycles as a solution. • Study advocates for circular economy principles in F&B sector to combat plastic pollution crisis.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120816
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