Food waste is changing consumer expectations — packaging plays a key role
Reducing food waste at the point of use
Food waste is increasingly influencing how consumers choose where to shop and which brands to trust.
A recent report from Too Good To Go and La Distribución Anged found that 94% of consumers would be willing to switch supermarkets in favour of one that takes action to reduce food waste. It also found that 64% of consumers see supermarkets as key players in reducing waste.
These findings also suggest that consumer expectations do not always reflect where food waste occurs across the value chain. While supermarkets play an important role, a significant share of food waste occurs later, including in the home.
Consumers expect practical, visible action
The food distribution sector has already made strong progress, with waste levels in retail below 1%, supported by improvements in stock management, logistics, packaging innovation and collaboration across the value chain.
This progress is not always visible to consumers. That makes practical, easy-to-understand innovation especially important.
Packaging supports waste reduction
Packaging plays a role beyond protecting products and supporting shelf life. It also influences how efficiently the product is used after opening.
At Sonoco, we focus on packaging innovation that delivers practical performance benefits across the food value chain.
Ecopeel™: designed for sustainability and convenience
In categories such as tuna, around 3g of product can remain inside a conventional can after opening. With Ecopeel™, the smooth body and full-aperture peelable opening support 100% product release, helping recover product that would otherwise remain in the can.
Ecopeel™ also reduces material use by replacing the traditional opening system with a peelable foil sealed directly onto the can body, supporting up to 20% lower CO₂ emissions compared with a regular three-piece can.
Practical innovation, measurable impact
Reducing food waste requires action across the full food value chain — from forecasting and logistics to consumer education and packaging design.
Solutions like Ecopeel™ demonstrate how packaging innovation can contribute in a practical, measurable way: improving product evacuation, reducing residual product waste and supporting more efficient material use.
Per unit, the difference may seem small. At scale, it becomes meaningful.