Food waste is a massive, yet often overlooked, contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. According to the UN Environment Program, it accounts for 10% of all emissions — a staggering figure that surpasses the aviation sector nearly fivefold. As the world faces mounting environmental and social challenges, packaging is emerging not as part of the problem, but as a critical part of the solution. And Elopak, a global leader in sustainable packaging, is at the forefront of this transformation.

Under the leadership of CEO Thomas Körmendi, Elopak is advocating for a smarter use of packaging technologies to combat food loss and reduce reliance on plastic. Speaking after this year’s Climate Week NYC, Körmendi emphasized that improving packaging infrastructure is essential for achieving climate targets and food security. “We must treat food as a precious resource,” he said, echoing sentiments once voiced by the late chef Anthony Bourdain, who decried food waste as a global injustice.

Indeed, the injustice is clear: over 2.3 billion people suffer from food insecurity, yet more than one billion metric tons of food go to waste annually. In developing countries, the issue is compounded by poor transportation, lack of refrigeration, and inadequate storage — leading to food spoilage before it ever reaches consumers. In Sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, 37% of food is lost in transit. Here, smart packaging technologies such as aseptic cartons can extend shelf life without refrigeration, helping food survive harsh supply chains.

These packages are designed to prevent microbial contamination and preserve freshness for months. Elopak’s solutions — including paper-based cartons with low-emission profiles — are now making their way into global markets, including the company’s first production plant in the United States opened this year. The benefits are not merely ecological but economic, offering better resource efficiency and product longevity.

On the consumer end, packaging plays a vital role in helping households reduce spoilage. Modern carton filling machines equipped with HEPA filtration systems can extend the shelf life of fresh milk up to 60 days. This technology, adopted widely during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now being repurposed to help families waste less and consume smarter.

However, as Körmendi acknowledges, packaging must also evolve to reduce its own environmental footprint. In the U.S. alone, 73 million metric tons of plastic waste is generated annually, with packaging accounting for 37% of that total. While plastic has been vilified — often rightly — the industry now faces the challenge of phasing it out without compromising food preservation.

Leading food manufacturers such as Coca-Cola, Danone, and KraftHeinz are lobbying for a global cap on plastic production, urging the adoption of renewable, low-impact alternatives. Although recent UN negotiations ended without agreement, momentum continues to build. A 2024 poll revealed that one in three Americans has reduced single-use plastic consumption in the past five years, and 86% of global consumers now expect companies to improve the environment.

Elopak's paper-based cartons, made from responsibly sourced paper fibers, are a step forward. Compared to PET plastic bottles, these cartons can result in up to 73% fewer emissions, while also being recyclable and more compatible with circular economy models. Increasingly, brands are shifting from plastic bottles to cartons — not just for dairy, but also for juices, soups, and more.

“The primary role of packaging is to protect food and reduce waste,” Körmendi said. “But today, it must also be a tool for cutting emissions and reducing plastic.”

As regulations slowly align with corporate and consumer ambitions, the role of smart packaging becomes ever more central. It serves as a bridge between environmental responsibility and food security — essential pillars of any sustainable future. From reducing spoilage in Sub-Saharan Africa to helping Western consumers waste less at home, packaging is no longer just a container. It's a catalyst for change.