Effective packaging innovations can help prevent rampant household food waste that eats into family budgets and produces climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions, but a new academic study confirms that too many U.S. consumers don’t understand how or why. 

Conducted by Michigan State University’s School of Packaging and sponsored by AMERIPEN and the Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF), the study – “Packaging and Household Food Waste Intersections: Facts and Consumer Awareness” – reveals that consumers are generally unaware of the value of specific packaging solutions in preserving food freshness and reducing waste. However, when consumers become better informed of packaging aspects that keep food fresh longer, they’re more likely to choose such packaging at the grocery store. The findings point to a clear opportunity to educate consumers and help them recognize the value of packaging in food waste reduction.