Japanese Food Packaging Required to Achieve Both Lightweighting and Plastic Waste Reduction: On-Site Challenges and Available Options

For containers of bento boxes, prepared dishes, desserts and other products sold at convenience stores and supermarkets, moves to reduce the use of conventional plastics are becoming widespread. Main options include thinner-walled plastic containers with reduced thickness compared to conventional products, and containers made of paper-based composite materials. Specifications meeting required heat resistance temperature and impact strength must be selected according to usage scenarios such as cold-chain or frozen distribution and microwave heating.

In material selection, it is essential to verify not only the plastic reduction rate but also the performance to prevent deformation and penetration caused by oil and moisture from food. When using paper materials, products with water- and oil-resistant coatings on the surface are common, and in many cases, bottom reinforcement structures are selected according to the weight and shape of the contents. For lightweight plastic containers, it is recommended to conduct strength tests equivalent to those for conventional products to prevent cracking during transportation and deformation during stacking.

In terms of cost, eco-friendly materials and specially processed packaging materials tend to have higher unit prices than conventional general-purpose plastic containers. In addition, lead times for delivery are often extended due to differences in material manufacturers' production systems and printing and molding processes. Food business operators placing orders are advised to obtain quotations for multiple specifications and conduct comparative studies including compatibility with packaging lines.

Packaging lightweighting and plastic waste reduction are long-term initiatives that also affect evaluation from retail stores and consumers. Instead of switching all packaging at once, a widely adopted approach is to conduct phased trial operations starting with high-volume staple products to identify issues related to strength and usability. Companies are required to make choices suited to the characteristics of their own products while closely monitoring trends in relevant laws and regulations and material recycling conditions.