Summary/reader response Draft 3

The article “Spray-on, Rinse Off Food ‘Wrapper’, Can Cut Plastic Packaging” written by Jones (2022), introduces a revolutionary solution which is capable of food preservation whilst being environmentally friendly. Most of the packaging that is used in our modern world does an excellent job in preserving the cleanliness of our food which prevents food-related illnesses. However, this comes at the cost of a large amount of plastics being thrust into our environment. With the introduction of this new spray-on wrapper, we can greatly reduce our carbon footprint by cutting down on the extensive amounts of plastics being used today. The way this wrapper works is that a biodegradable fibre, pullulan, is sprayed on the food through the “focused rotary jet spinning” (FRJS) mechanism which can easily be washed off upon consumption.  The fibre has been “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. With its organic antimicrobial substance, an experiment has proven that the spray-on coating is able to keep fruits fresh for an extended period of time while reducing the likelihood of rotting. However, due to it being a relatively new venture, researchers are still in experimentation to ensure there are no harmful by-products (Jones, 2022). Replacing food packaging with the spray-on food wrapper will be a huge leap towards sustainability in light of the edible natural fibre used and its antibacterial components, provided that it has no adverse effects that can backfire.

Being the main component of the food coating, pullulan is widely used across the food industry due to its edible properties and low-calorie (Oğuzhan, Yangılar, 2013). Its water-solubility is another desirable characteristic making it a notch above plastic food wrappers as consumers need not worry about the hassle with disposal. Consumers may even ingest the food directly if it is inconvenient for them to rinse the coating off since it will dissolve in the mouth (Ghosh et al., 2022). Borrelle estimated in his report that “19 to 23 million metric tons, or 11%, of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems.”, this amount may soar to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030 (Borrelle et al., 2020). Since plastic is not biodegradable, irresponsible disposal may upset the marine ecosystem when aquatic animals ingest or get caught in the plastic debris. According to an article by Caselles, plastic wrappers are the most common sightings along the coasts (Caselles, 2021). Replacing plastic packaging with the spray-on wrapper is able to reduce the threats plastic has on the marine environment. Moreover, the coating can be washed into the soil and degrades within three days (Jones, 2022), making it a more attractive alternative to plastics.

Aside from the environmental impact of replacing plastic food wrappers with the spray-on coating, it also reduces food wastage. The natural ingredients thyme oil, citric acid, and nisin portray bacterial fighting properties. A study by the society for applied microbiology on citric acid against foodborne bacteria shows that it is able to hinder the growth of common food pathogen like Escherichia coli which thrives in harsh pH conditions (Burel et al., 2020). Food wastage has come to light in recent years which pushed supermarkets to start initiatives to tackle it through various donation drive. For instance, Singapore supermarket chain FairPrice collaborates with Food charity Food from the Heart (FFTH) to deliver unsold food with blemishes or damaged packaging to needy families (Liu, Tan, 2020). However, many fresh produces like fruits and vegetables are still being dumped daily as they are highly susceptible to oxidation, easily losing their freshness, often becoming unsuitable for donation due to their stale quality. With the introduction of the innovative coating, such food wastage can be minimised. An experiment conducted on avocados has proven a significant delay in the oxidation process of the avocados; 9 in 10 of the fruits covered in the new coating stayed green as compared to only 5 in the 10 of the bare fruits (Jones, 2022).

However, this new innovation can be dangerous when supermarket patrons start to overbuy groceries with the intention to keep them for storage since the spray-on wrapper is said to extend shelf-life of food. The leads to overestimation and buying more than they can consume before the food go stale. As a result, excess food may end up in the bin as they turned bad before consumption, potentially leading to more food wastage. Buyers have to balance between purchasing food in the spray-on coating to play their part in being eco-friendly, and only buying sufficient quantity for consumption so as to prevent unnecessary food wastage.

The harmful impacts plastics have on the environment are irreversible. Replacing plastic food packaging with the new spray-on food wrapper can do a great part in sustainability. The public has to be well-informed about the new innovation and practice sustainable consumer behaviour so as to eradicate the social consequences it can possibly bring. As food wastage is more distinct in developed countries, they can make contributions to this invention in its experimental stage so as to ensure fruitful results in reducing plastics and food wastage.

 

 

Reference

Borrelle, S., Ringma, J., & Law, K. (2020, September 18). Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution. Science. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aba3656

Burel, C., Kala, A., & Purevdorj-Gage, L. (2020). Impact of pH on citric acid antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Society For Applied Microbiology, 1-2. https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/lam.13420

Caselles, C., Viejo, J., & Marti, E. (2021, June 01). An inshore–offshore sorting system revealed from global classification of ocean litter. nature sustainability, 1-2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00720-8.epdf?sharing_token=OOr8YcNKgJJzcm1wR3kl29RgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0MZqPkA2o-8x51IHmWg4QqQ2UONscUSVykRf3tqDi_cGh3qXIwLS2eCErAU8-9xRKNCTVhDvruCCueZ50ekew7AyzMW0mofYYKTICPI_iYROw8zuOGWVSCvQuTgJBwepxjuKws-rJ9oTHz0f

Ghosh, T., Priyadashi, R., Souza, C., Angioletti, B., & Rhim, J. (2022). Advances in pullulan utilization for sustainable applications in food packaging and preservation: A mini-review. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 53. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224422001613

Jones, S. (2022, June 24). Spray-On, Rinse-Off Food ‘Wrapper’ Can Cut Plastic Packaging. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spray-on-rinse-off-food-lsquo-wrapper-rsquo-can-cut-plastic-packaging/

Liu, V., & Tan, J. (2020, December 20). Unsold but not unwanted food: What do supermarkets in Singapore do with these. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/unsold-but-not-unwanted

Oğuzhan, P., & Yangılar, F. (2013). Pullulan: Production and usage in food ındustry. African Journal of Food Science and Technology, 8. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Filiz-Yangilar/publication/292767321_Pullulan_production_and_usage_in_food_industry/links/59b102eba6fdcc3f888dc6ea/Pullulan-production-and-usage-in-food-industry.pdf