The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), a leading industry organization representing nearly 900 member companies in the fresh produce sector, has welcomed a new government-commissioned study that sheds light on the critical role of packaging in the fresh produce supply chain. The study, jointly commissioned by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), offers valuable insights into the functionality of plastic packaging for fresh produce from a needs and benefits perspective.
The research comes at a crucial time when the fresh produce industry is grappling with the challenge of minimizing plastic packaging waste while maintaining food safety, quality, and sustainability standards. Ron Lemaire, President of CPMA, expressed satisfaction with the government’s initiative, stating, “CPMA is pleased to see the Government of Canada commission an industry-informed study which highlights the critical role and function that fresh produce packaging plays to ensure that high-quality fruits and vegetables are available to Canadians year-round.”
The study, titled “Quantifying the Functionality Importance of Plastic Packaging in Fresh Produce from a Needs/Benefit Perspective,” introduces an innovative framework for describing the essential functions provided by fresh produce packaging. These functions include containment (seal integrity and physical robustness), convenience (portion control and ease of handling), and communication (storage and handling instructions, as well as traceability).
Notably, the framework also emphasizes the protective role of packaging in ensuring preservation, microbial control, and preventing contamination during transportation and storage.
While the study offers valuable insights, it’s important to note that it does not consider the impact of packaging on fresh produce affordability or year-round availability – two crucial factors in the Canadian market, where four out of five dollars are spent on imported fresh produce. The CPMA acknowledges that these considerations are significant when assessing and selecting packaging solutions.
The research categorizes fresh produce into groups with shared packaging functionality requirements, an approach that CPMA recognizes as novel in addressing packaging waste challenges while aiming to develop practical sustainable packaging guidelines. This categorization covers nearly 95% of fresh produce sold by volume, providing a comprehensive overview of the industry’s packaging needs.
In light of the study’s findings, CPMA and Western Growers (WG) have joined forces to develop sustainable produce packaging guidelines. These guidelines will incorporate the study’s insights, particularly the functionality framework and proposed produce categorization, as part of their ongoing efforts to improve sustainability in the industry.
The CPMA emphasizes the importance of understanding packaging functionality before developing policies or regulations. The association says that it encourages government departments and agencies whose mandates impact or are influenced by sustainable fresh produce supply chains to consider this report as a crucial resource.
