From definition to delivery
Making sustainable food contact materials work in practice
By Tessa Slagter, Sustainable Innovation Manager, AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings
The recent study for European Commission on sustainable food contact materials (FCMs) is an important step forward for the industry. It brings together much needed clarity on what ‘sustainable FCM’ should mean and sets out recommendations to guide future regulation and decision-making.
The focus now shifts to how these principles are applied in practice across different materials and applications.
At the recent Chemical Watch Food Contact Regulations Europe conference, I shared a metal coatings perspective on what this means for the metal packaging sector.
What “sustainable” really means
A key outcome of the study is a broader definition of sustainability in the context of food contact materials. It brings together four core principles: food safety, environmental impact, waste reduction and supporting healthier diets.
This broader definition reflects the reality of food packaging. It is not just about the material itself, but about how it performs within the wider food system.
What this means for metal packaging
Applying this definition to metal packaging highlights several important opportunities and considerations.
Metal packaging already plays a critical role in protecting and preserving food, extending shelf life and reducing waste. At the same time, the sector needs to continue reducing emissions, minimising resource use and managing substances of concern.
This means balancing multiple priorities – and ensuring progress in one area doesn’t create challenges in another.
Building on what works
One of the strengths of metal packaging is its established recycling infrastructure. Metals such as aluminium and steel are inherently recyclable, and in many markets, collection systems are already highly effective so metal packaging already contains significant levels of post-consumer recycled content.
Increasing recycling rates further will depend on the availability of recycled material. This in turn relies on attributing the appropriate value to materials, and supporting effective collection systems, such as deposit return schemes.
For the metal packaging sector, we can build on what already works, and continue improving it.
Where progress is already happening
The study highlights the importance of (re)designing food contact materials with sustainability, safety and functionality in mind from the outset.
For metal packaging, this does not always require entirely new systems or materials. In many cases, meaningful progress is already being achieved by improving how materials are used and how processes are optimised.
For coatings, this can already be seen in several areas:
- Transitioning from solventborne to waterborne coating technologies for beverage cans
- Downgauging and efficient use of materials and optimising production processes
- Moving to alternative coating chemistries with a lower carbon footprint or with alternative raw materials
While originally driven by performance and efficiency requirements, these examples are also delivering meaningful sustainability benefits.
Looking ahead, as the needs of human health regulations evolve, there will be an opportunity to embed sustainability more intentionally from the outset.
Avoiding regrettable substitutions
One key consideration identified in the transition to more sustainable FCMs is the potential for unintended consequences.
For example, addressing one requirement in isolation can lead to trade-offs elsewhere. This can result in ‘regrettable substitution’, where a solution that appears beneficial in the short term creates new challenges in the future.
Avoiding this means taking a holistic view of the materials, the application, and the value chain.
From recommendations to action
The study outlines several recommendations to support the transition to more sustainable FCMs, including:
- Harmonised standards and guidance for reusable materials
- Eco-design frameworks for food contact materials
- Product essentiality assessments
- Sector-wide, science-based sustainability targets
These provide a strong foundation, and the focus is now on how the recommendations are applied in practice. From a metal packaging perspective we know, for example, that increasing reusable materials would require entirely new infrastructure, so the greatest impact will come from improving existing systems and targeting the most relevant sustainability priorities.
Eco-design guidance can play an important role in selecting lower-impact materials with improved end-of-life outcomes, while ensuring that food contact materials are developed with sustainability, functionality and safety in mind. Product essentiality assessments can help determine whether specific materials or components are truly necessary for performance, safety and functionality or whether they can be reduced or replaced.
Sector-wide, science-based sustainability targets would also provide a consistent and credible framework for measuring progress. At AkzoNobel, we set science-based targets in 2021, covering both our own operations and our value chain so we know that achieving these targets will require continued collaboration across the value chain.
Keeping the focus on progress
Alongside these recommendations, it is important to consider how they are implemented in practice.
Transparency and reporting are essential, but they need to support progress and not slow it down with additional complexity and resource demands.
The focus should remain on making real change, encouraging positive behaviour across the value chain, while keeping reporting requirements proportionate and practical.
A shared path forward
The study on sustainable FCM provides a valuable framework for the future of food contact materials.
For the packaging sector, the challenge now is to translate this framework into practical action, leveraging existing strengths, addressing key challenges, and avoiding unintended consequences.
This requires:
- A holistic, system-wide approach
- Focus on the most relevant topics for each material and application
- Collaboration across the value chain
- A commitment to transparency, predictability and progress
By taking this approach, the industry can move beyond defining sustainability and begin to intentionally deliver it in practice.
At AkzoNobel, we see this as a shared responsibility. By working together with our value chain, we can help ensure that packaging solutions are not only compliant today, but ready for the future.
Reach out to your key account manager or contact us to learn more: https://packagingcoatings.akzonobel.com/en/contact-us