Avoidable food waste and household size: A life cycle comparison of packaged and unpackaged fruits and vegetables

Abstract

Food packaging is often criticised for its environmental impact. However, it can play a crucial role in reducing avoidable waste generated during the consumption of food products. Relying on a lifecycle analysis, this study explores the trade-off between the environmental impacts of packaging and its potential to prevent food waste. In particular, commodity-specific waste scenarios are compared for packaged and unpackaged options across different household sizes, as household composition influences consumption rates and the likelihood of food spoilage. Results show that, when food waste rates are equal, packaged options generally have higher environmental impacts due to added processing and packaging materials. However, packaged alternatives may offer a preferable option when avoidable food waste is reduced below threshold levels that are commodity and household-size-specific. In particular, single-person households, currently over one-third of European households, are most at risk of exceeding these thresholds, implying that right-sized, convenience-oriented packaging could deliver net benefits if it effectively cuts waste. Conversely, larger households generally minimise impacts by choosing unpackaged produce. The findings underline three priorities: (i) incorporate commodity- and household-level waste heterogeneity into lifecycle assessment (LCA) and policy analyses; (ii) tailor packaging design to smaller households to realise waste-reduction potential; and (iii) refine food-waste statistics to support evidence-based decisions.