Plastic Packaging in Produce

Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
The rise in eco-friendly food packaging is one trend that is expected to ramp up even more in 2025. Andrew Stephens, senior policy advisor at the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service says several countries are on track to outlaw single-use plastic packaging in fresh produce.
Stephens… “In 2022, France began a ban on all single-use plastic packaging for fresh foods and vegetables sold at retail. That ban is being phased in by 2026. A similar measure is nearing the finish line at the European Union. So the 27 EU member states are in the final stages of adopting the packaging and pack packaging wakes regulation or PPWR that also repeats the ban on nearly all single-use plastic packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables.”
States like California are following suit, and Stephens believes this is only the beginning of more sustainable packaging laws worldwide.
Stephens… “We could see dozens of more states adopting sustainable packaging laws in the next few years. We're going to see broader regulations that will require packaging to be recyclable, reusable, or compostable by the end of the decade. In some ways, the fresh vegetable, fruit and vegetable industry was excluded from the immediate obligation in California, but many of these other obligations will apply. It may not apply to the on farm packhouse, but it'll apply to the distributor. You know, that's a challenge. How do you, how do you do that?”
This interview with Andrew Stephens originally appeared on the Fresh Takes on Tech Podcast.