Thoroughly considering and optimizing packaging systems can avoid food loss and waste.

We suggest a number of issues that must be explored and review the associated challenges.

Five main issues were recognized through the extensive experience of the authors and engagement

of multiple stakeholders. The issues promoted are classified as follows: (1) identify

and obtain specific data of packaging functions that influence food waste; (2) understand

the total environmental burden of product/package by considering the trade-off between

product protection and preservation and environmental footprint; (3) develop understanding

of how these functions should be treated in environmental footprint evaluations; (4)

improve packaging design processes to also consider reducing food waste; and (5) analyze

stakeholder incentives to reduce food loss and waste. Packaging measures that save food

will be important to fulfill the United Nations Sustainable Development goal to halve per

capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and to reduce food losses along

production and supply chains.