Disposable but indispensable : the role of packaging in everyday food consumption

Abstract

Consumers nowadays usually dispose of food packaging after a single use. As the amount of packaging waste increases, it is of the utmost importance to encourage its reduction. Whereas most previous studies have focused on packaging in practices related to supermarkets, we analyse its role in food consumption beyond the realm of shopping. Rooted in practice theories, we conceptually frame packaging as an integral material element that is unconsciously used in daily food consumption. To explore this idea, we collected qualitative data from 26 consumers in Berlin, Germany, combining food diaries and interviews. Our results illustrate that disposable packaging is entangled in many food consumption practices in multiple ways. It is a multifaceted object that saves time and space while facilitating consumption, making it difficult for consumers to sidestep. Based on these insights, we derive recommendations for a shift towards packaging waste prevention