{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T18:01:11Z","timestamp":1790359271574,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,9]],"date-time":"2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1736380800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Austrian Competence Center for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (FFoQSI)","award":["36184885"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["36184885"]}]},{"name":"Austrian federal ministries BMK and BMDW","award":["36184885"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["36184885"]}]},{"name":"Austrian provinces Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Vienna","award":["36184885"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["36184885"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004955","name":"Austrian Research Promotion Agency, FFG","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["36184885"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["36184885"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004955","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Foods"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The European Union aims for climate neutrality by 2050 and has proposed the Packaging and Packing Waste Regulation (PPWR) to promote a circular economy, focusing on reducing packaging waste. In this context, a comprehensive sustainability assessment for liquid dairy product packaging, including beverage cartons, bottles and to-go cups, in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) was conducted. The aim was to consider various ecological aspects of environmental impacts and circularity. As the aspect of recyclability is a core aspect in the PPWR, the calculation was of central interest in this project. Here, major differences in the waste management infrastructure between countries could be identified. The majority of assessed packaging falls below the PPWR\u2019s 70% recyclability requirement, with Switzerland showing even lower recyclability due to poor packaging collection and recycling infrastructure. Significant discrepancies in packaging efficiency exist, indicating unnecessary resource consumption, especially in the case of to-go cups. Additionally, the carbon footprint of packaging materials can vary up to ten times within certain product categories, negatively impacting the environment. Good results were identified for the use of certified renewable resources. Overall, the results of the assessment demonstrate several areas for improvement in light of forthcoming regulatory requirements, which must be met in Germany and Austria.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/foods14020195","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,9]],"date-time":"2025-01-09T11:29:37Z","timestamp":1736422177000},"page":"195","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Fit for the Future: An Assessment of the Sustainability Parameters of Liquid Dairy Product Packaging in the DACH Region and the Implications of Upcoming Regulatory Changes"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Michelle","family":"Klein","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Section Packaging Technology and Natural Resource Management, University of Applied Sciences Vienna, Favoritenstrasse 226, 1100 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Charlotte","family":"Neumair","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Circular Analytics TK GmbH, Canovagasse 7\/1\/14, 1010 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-8186-2779","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mattia","family":"Primoceri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Circular Analytics TK GmbH, Canovagasse 7\/1\/14, 1010 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manfred","family":"Tacker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Circular Analytics TK GmbH, Canovagasse 7\/1\/14, 1010 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3514-7227","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Silvia","family":"Apprich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section Packaging Technology and Natural Resource Management, University of Applied Sciences Vienna, Favoritenstrasse 226, 1100 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations FAO (2018). Sustainable Food Systems: Concept and Framework, FAO."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137778","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2023.137778","article-title":"In the nexus of sustainability, circular economy and food industry: Circular food package design","volume":"415","author":"Kazancoglu","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"839","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tifs.2021.03.049","article-title":"Perspectives on sustainable food packaging is bio-based plastics a solution?","volume":"112","author":"Mendes","year":"2021","journal-title":"Trends Food Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"G\u00fcrlich, U., Kladnik, V., and Pavlovic, K. (2024, October 08). Circular Packaging Design Guideline: Empfehlungen f\u00fcr Recyclinggerechte Verpackungen\u2014Version 05. Available online: https:\/\/www.ara.at\/uploads\/Dokumente\/Guidelines-Circular-Packaging\/Circular-Packaging-Design-Guideline-V05_DE.pdf."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8833","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-020-11268-z","article-title":"Natural leaf-type as food packaging material for traditional food in Nigeria: Sustainability aspects and theoretical circular economy solutions","volume":"28","author":"Ezeudu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8851","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-021-16111-7","article-title":"Establishing a corporate social responsibility implementation model for promoting sustainability in the food sector: A hybrid approach of expert mining and ISM-MICMAC","volume":"29","author":"Usmani","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125915","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2019.125915","article-title":"Antimicrobial food packaging based on sustainable Bio-based materials for reducing foodborne Pathogens: A review","volume":"310","author":"Youssef","year":"2020","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1016\/S0959-6526(98)00031-6","article-title":"Environmental impacts of product systems in a life cycle perspective","volume":"6","author":"Hanssen","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Reinhardt, G., G\u00e4rtner, S., M\u00fcnch, J., and H\u00e4fele, S. (2024, July 15). \u00d6kologische Optimierung Regional Erzeugter Lebensmittel: Energie-und Klimagasbilanzen. Available online: http:\/\/ernaehrungsdenkwerkstatt.de\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/EDWText\/TextElemente\/Ernaehrungsoekologie\/Regionale_Lebensmittel_IFEU_2009.pdf."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Reitz, A. (2024, June 06). Lebensmittelschutz ist Klimaschutz: Lebensmittelschutz durch Verpackungen: Auswirkungen auf den CO2-Fu\u00dfabdruck. Im Auftrag der: Mainz\/Wien. Available online: https:\/\/www.avu-online.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Klimaschutz-ist-Lebensmittelschutz-Studie-AGVU-denkstatt_November-2020.pdf."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3559","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-019-11525-x","article-title":"Packaging materials with desired mechanical and barrier properties and full chemical recyclability","volume":"10","author":"Sangroniz","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guillard, V., Gaucel, S., Fornaciari, C., Angellier-Coussy, H., Buche, P., and Gontard, N. (2018). The Next Generation of Sustainable Food Packaging to Preserve Our Environment in a Circular Economy Context. Front. Nutr., 5.","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2018.00121"},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"European Commission (2024, July 22). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Commitee and the Commitee of the Regions\u2014Closing the Loop\u2014An EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy. Available online: https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/resource.html?uri=cellar:8a8ef5e8-99a0-11e5-b3b7-01aa75ed71a1.0012.02\/DOC_1&format=PDF."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"European Commission (2024, September 18). Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Packaging and Packaging Waste, Amending Regulation (EU) 2019\/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019\/904, and Repealing Directive 94\/62\/EC. Available online: https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/doceo\/document\/TA-9-2024-0318_EN.pdf."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126733","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2021.126733","article-title":"Food packaging and sustainability\u2014Consumer perception vs. correlated scientific facts: A review","volume":"298","author":"Otto","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105726","DOI":"10.1016\/j.resconrec.2021.105726","article-title":"Five shades of plastic in food: Which potentially circular packaging solutions are Italian consumers more sensitive to","volume":"173","author":"Testa","year":"2021","journal-title":"Resour. Conserv. Recycl."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Bundeministerium f\u00fcr Ern\u00e4hrung und Landwirtschaft (2024, June 11). Entwicklungen am deutschen Milchmarkt\u2014Ein \u00dcberblick. Available online: https:\/\/www.bmel.de\/DE\/themen\/landwirtschaft\/agrarmaerkte\/entwicklungen-milchmarkt-de.html."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Bundesministerium f\u00fcr Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft (2024, June 11). Milchwirtschaft in \u00d6sterreich. Available online: https:\/\/info.bml.gv.at\/themen\/landwirtschaft\/landwirtschaft-in-oesterreich\/tierische-produktion\/milch\/milchwirtschaft.html."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Bundesamt f\u00fcr Landwirtschaft BLW (2024, June 11). Milch und Milchprodukte. Available online: https:\/\/www.blw.admin.ch\/blw\/de\/home\/nachhaltige-produktion\/tierische-produktion\/milch-und-milchprodukte.html."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"85","article-title":"Overview of packaging materials for Dairy packaging","volume":"2021","author":"Kurek","year":"2021","journal-title":"Croat. J. Food Technol. Biotechnol. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kontominas, M. (2010). Effects of packaging on milk quality and safety. Improving the Safety and Quality of Milk: Effects of Packaging on Milk Quality and Safety, Elsevier.","DOI":"10.1533\/9781845699437.2.136"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ncube, L.K., Ude, A.U., Ogunmuyiwa, E.N., Zulkifli, R., and Beas, I.N. (2021). An Overview of Plastic Waste Generation and Management in Food Packaging Industries. Recycling, 6.","DOI":"10.3390\/recycling6010012"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122261","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2022.122261","article-title":"Circular plastics packaging\u2014Prioritizing resources and capabilities along the supply chain","volume":"188","author":"Stumpf","year":"2023","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Wohner, B., and Kladnik, V. (2024, September 20). Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung von Verpackungen: Eine Empfehlung der ECR Austria Arbeitsgruppe \u201cNachhaltigkeitsbewertung\u201d, Wien. Available online: https:\/\/www.ecr.digital\/wp_contents\/uploads\/whitepapers\/ECR_Austria_Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung_INTERAKTIV.pdf."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.3390\/cleantechnol5010017","article-title":"Design-Based Approach to Support Sorting Behavior of Food Packaging","volume":"5","author":"Nemat","year":"2023","journal-title":"Clean Technol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104646","DOI":"10.1016\/j.resconrec.2019.104646","article-title":"Design from recycling: A complex mixed plastic waste case study","volume":"155","author":"Ragaert","year":"2020","journal-title":"Resour. Conserv. Recycl."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Statista GmbH (2024, October 01). Marktanteile der f\u00fchrenden Unternehmen im Lebensmitteleinzelhandel in \u00d6sterreich in 2019 und 2020. Available online: https:\/\/de.statista.com\/statistik\/daten\/studie\/273211\/umfrage\/marktanteile-im-lebensmitteleinzelhandel-in-oesterreich\/."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Bundesministerium f\u00fcr Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz (2024, June 15). \u00d6sterreichisches Lebensmittelhandbuch: IV. Auflage Codexkapitel\/B 32\/Milch und Milchprodukte., Available online: https:\/\/www.verbrauchergesundheit.gv.at\/Lebensmittel\/buch\/codex\/B32_Milch_und_Milchprodukte.pdf?94wvih."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rimbach, G., M\u00f6hring, J., and Erbersdobler, H.F. (2010). Lebensmittel-Warenkunde f\u00fcr Einsteiger, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-04486-1"},{"key":"#cr-split#-ref_30.1","unstructured":"European Commission (2006). Regulation"},{"key":"#cr-split#-ref_30.2","unstructured":"(EC) No 1924\/2006 of the European Parliament of of the Council of 20 December 206 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. Off. J. Eur. Union, 404, 9-25."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"European Commission (2022). Understanding Product Environmental Footprint and Organisation Environmental Footprint Methods, Publications Office of the European Union."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"(2018). Greenhouse Gases\u2014Carbon Footprint of Products\u2014Requirements and Guidelines for Quantification (Standard No. ISO 14067:2018)."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"(2006). Environmental Management\u2014Life Cycle Assessment\u2014Principles and Framework (Standard No. ISO 14040)."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"(2006). Environmental Management\u2014Life Cycle Assessment\u2014Requirements and Guidelines (Standard No. ISO 14044)."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Packaging Cockpit GmbH (2024, September 30). Packaging Cockpit: PSM Software\u2014Packaging Specification Management Software. Available online: https:\/\/packaging-cockpit.com\/en\/."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klein, M., Werner, C., Tacker, M., and Apprich, S. (2024). Influence of Packaging Design on Technical Emptiability of Dairy Products and Implications on Sustainability through Food Waste Reduction. Sustainability, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/su16156335"},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Brouwer, M., and Thoden van Velzen, U. (2024, September 24). Multi-dimensional sustainability assessment of product-packaging combinations: MuDiSa: A calculation tool to assess the sustainability of product-packaging combinations in multiple dimensions of sustainability, Wageningen. Available online: https:\/\/edepot.wur.nl\/633072."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Stiftung Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (2024, December 09). Mindeststandard f\u00fcr die Bemessung der Recyclingf\u00e4higkeit von Systembeteiligungspflichtigen Verpackungen gem\u00e4\u00df \u00a7 21 Abs. 3 VerpackG. Available online: https:\/\/www.verpackungsregister.org\/fileadmin\/files\/Mindeststandard\/Mindeststandard_VerpackG_2024.pdf."},{"key":"#cr-split#-ref_39.1","unstructured":"European Commission (2011). Commission Regulation"},{"key":"#cr-split#-ref_39.2","unstructured":"(EU) No 10\/2011 of 14 January 2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Off. J. Eur. Union, 12, 1-89."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1425","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodcont.2010.04.028","article-title":"New EU regulation aspects and global market of active and intelligent packaging for food industry applications","volume":"21","author":"Restuccia","year":"2010","journal-title":"Food Control"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Franz, R., and Welle, F. (2022). Recycling of Post-Consumer Packaging Materials into New Food Packaging Applications\u2014Critical Review of the European Approach and Future Perspectives. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su14020824"}],"container-title":["Foods"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-8158\/14\/2\/195\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T10:26:04Z","timestamp":1759919164000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-8158\/14\/2\/195"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,9]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1]]}},"alternative-id":["foods14020195"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/foods14020195","relation":{},"ISSN":["2304-8158"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2304-8158","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,9]]}}}