The role of shelf-stable foods within sustainability

Shelf-stable food products offer manufacturers and consumers a host of benefits, not least because they require zero artificial additives to stay fresh and safe for consumption. Thanks to the sterilization process involved in aseptic packaging, food products are protected against contamination, allowing manufacturers to use only natural ingredients – in turn, helping them meet consumer demand for health and wellness. 

Furthermore, with regulations constantly being updated to cover the emergence of new segments – including 3D-printed food – manufacturers have to keep up with their competition without sacrificing their efforts to be more responsible.  

As such, we have started to see a shift towards sustainable, natural additives including beetroot juice, which can be used as a food coloring, as well as more focus on production of fermented food products.

How shelf-stable is sustainable

That aseptic food products require no artificial additives is only one of many benefits shelf-stable products bring to the table:

Less food waste

Perhaps one of the most significant benefits offered by the shelf-stable segment is a vast reduction in food waste – with regards to production, transportation and when a product has reached the end user. For example, if we look at global food production alone, about 30% of ingredients/products are lost or wasted at some point in the supply chain.

With aseptic packaging, manufacturers can safely store excess raw materials for later use and better protect goods during transportation. Take our industrial bag-in-box packaging, which is designed to help manufacturers extend the shelf-life of fresh fruit and vegetable products far past harvesting season – without the need for preservatives or refrigeration, and all while retaining the flavors, colors and nutrients of each ingredient. As well as helping manufacturers use fewer raw materials, this helps save on energy use, creating an overall more optimal process.

More efficient consumption

The benefits of shelf-stable packaging continue to present once a product reaches the consumer. Consumers want to live more responsibly, and with an array of shelf-stable packaging options and sizes to choose from, everyone from a single-person household to a large family can buy what they want – while finding it easier to use products before they go off. Further to this point, a recent report by Kerry found that one third of people surveyed said they would be willing to switch to shelf-stable products, listing a desire to reduce food waste and environmental concerns among their reasons why. 

In addition, and based on EU-wide regulations, all aseptic packaging must be made recyclable or refillable by 2030, making the aseptic process even more sustainable.

Finding the right format

Whether you are in the market for stables like tomato puree and soups and sauces, or emerging segments like liquid meals and broths, today’s aseptic packaging includes carton packs, spouted pouch offerings, and bag-in-box. As the world’s only supplier of all three packaging formats, we know how to cater to our customer’s demands. Whether they need packaging for small, independent cafes, large and busy QSRs, or grocery shelves – with some formats showing considerable gain over others.

“Cartons and spouted pouches are designed to meet the expectations of modern consumers. They are lightweight, have an ergonomic shape, and are easier to store, open, and dispose of. They also have a significantly lower carbon footprint than metal and glass containers for shelf-stable food.”¹

Tamara Dzalaeva, Category Manager Europe

In the fourth and final part of the series, we discuss the complexities surrounding production of shelf-stable products compared to the opportunities this segment offers manufacturers. What are the key challenges to overcome, and how do we expect the market to change over the coming decade?

Read more about the entire series in our exclusive report here and follow this discussion and more by signing up to our monthly newsletter.

For a wide range of food and beverages. Based on independent, critically reviewed life-cycle assessments for beverage cartons conducted in line with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards and including the preliminary results of our life-cycle analysis of bag-in-box and spouted pouch solutions. Please note, an independent, critically reviewed life-cycle assessment for these solutions is in progress.