Edible packaging is a new and intuitive solution for a lot of problems, including of course, plastic waste. We tend to throw out a ton of our waste in the form of wrappers and various other dunnage that we get from the food we consume.
Edible packaging however seeks to change that. They fit into the unique trend of a zero waste lifestyle and eco-consciousness, which is of course, a big part of what customers want.
Elements of Edible Packaging
Edible packaging comes with unique elements that are worth mentioning, especially for those who seek to reduce the plastic that they use for their packaging.
For instance, we use a lot of plastic for wrappers and various containers to house the items. But edible packaging takes that all out, and replaces it with rice paper, seaweed, gelatin, and other aspects. The goal of this is to ensure that longevity and safety are maintained without chemical preservation.
You want to use plant-based packaging for this. Ultimately, anything with cellulose works because even if not consumed and thrown back in the ground, it will naturally break down with time, and allow for new life to grow. You’re not wasting it in a landfill, but instead putting it in a great location.
Ensuring Safety and Edibility
The one thing that edible packaging also does, is that it’s made in a manner where it can be safely consumed.
It’s a great idea, but it’s best used with items that are fresher in nature, such as pastries, sandwiches, and the like, and less for items that will sit on store shelves. This is because they do naturally break down with time, and if you waste your edible packaging on those things, it can ultimately pose problems as well.
You want to make sure that the items you use won’t go bad or rot, because that may cause problems with consumers. You also want it to be able to be safely consumed, and taste good as well.
This is a big part, because a lot of consumers aren’t very open to the idea of this type of packaging because it tastes foul, so if you can figure out how to make it work, then you’ll definitely want to try it.
In some ways, we already use this. seaweed snacks, especially rice balls, are one. The same goes for ice cream cones. You literally eat the cone. More and more novel ways are being used to create these unique snacks and edible packaging that many consumers love.
Benefits and Drawbacks
There’s pros and cons to using this, which we’ll go over here.
The first, is that this does drastically reduce the single-use plastics and packaging waste. This is because it makes the packaging easy to consume, allowing for customers to have it, and also be able to throw out the items without as much guilt.
There are some challenges that come with this, however. First, you want to make sure that they are flavorful for the item you’re packaging, and fit the flavor. You also want to make sure the texture isn’t too extreme.
Finally, you want to make sure that consumer acceptance of this packaging material are properly aligned. If the item is not palatable to consumers, then chances are they won’t want to consume it. so keep all of this in mind, and also bear in mind too that there are a lot of other factors that will go into this, and also should be properly factored in for your own consumption.
Distribution Concepts 