A critical review of paper base food packaging and its environmental impacts
Ahmadi, Behnaz (2026)
Diplomityö
2026
School of Energy Systems, Ympäristötekniikka
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2026061671909
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2026061671909
Tiivistelmä
In recent decades, plastic food packaging has increased and has caused problems such as waste, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, paper-based food packaging is considered as a practical alternative. It is renewable, recyclable, and widely used, but it also has environmental and technical limitations.
The purpose of this thesis is to critically review paper-based food packaging and other crucial factors such as its environmental impacts, and its functional performance in food packaging. The focus is on resource use, recyclability, end-of-life management, moisture resistance, barrier properties, mechanical strength, and food protection. paper-based packaging is also compared with plastic packaging in terms of sustainability and circular economy.
This thesis is based on a critical literature review that uses scientific articles, reports, and academic publications. The study does not include laboratory tests or primary data collection. The findings show that paper-based packaging has environmental benefits because it is made from renewable materials. However, making paper requires water, energy, and chemical materials during the production process that may cause emissions and wastewater. The review also shows that paper-based materials have weaker resistance to moisture and gas than plastics. Therefore, coatings, additives, and bio-based materials are needed to improve their performance. The thesis concludes that paper-based food packaging can be used as sustainable packaging systems if environmental impacts and functional requirements balance together. Paper packaging should also be considered as part of the entire system.
The purpose of this thesis is to critically review paper-based food packaging and other crucial factors such as its environmental impacts, and its functional performance in food packaging. The focus is on resource use, recyclability, end-of-life management, moisture resistance, barrier properties, mechanical strength, and food protection. paper-based packaging is also compared with plastic packaging in terms of sustainability and circular economy.
This thesis is based on a critical literature review that uses scientific articles, reports, and academic publications. The study does not include laboratory tests or primary data collection. The findings show that paper-based packaging has environmental benefits because it is made from renewable materials. However, making paper requires water, energy, and chemical materials during the production process that may cause emissions and wastewater. The review also shows that paper-based materials have weaker resistance to moisture and gas than plastics. Therefore, coatings, additives, and bio-based materials are needed to improve their performance. The thesis concludes that paper-based food packaging can be used as sustainable packaging systems if environmental impacts and functional requirements balance together. Paper packaging should also be considered as part of the entire system.