Background and objectives

Can you imagine that European citizens waste on average 164 kg of packaging per person per year, of which more than two thirds is food packaging? There is a real challenge in finding a good balance between the benefits of packaging in terms of food safety and its impact on the environment. Moreover, changes in food production and distribution led to an increased sophistication of food packaging. A careful evaluation of the interactions between food and food contact materials is requested to ensure the safety of the consumer. The Packaging Materials Task Force identifies and addresses these food packaging issues.

Impact

Organised every four years, the International Symposia on Food Packaging provide a unique platform to discuss the science of the safety and the quality of food packaging. Regularly updated, the ILSI Europe Report Series on Packaging Materials focus on the most common materials used in the whole value chain of the food packaging industry, and on addressing chemical, toxicological, legislative and environmental aspects.