Are you skeptical about meal kits like Blue Apron and HelloFresh due to their seemingly excessive cardboard and plastic packaging? You might want to think again! A recent study indicates that meal delivery services are actually more eco-friendly than traditional grocery shopping.
Published in the scientific journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling, the research highlights that companies like Blue Apron are leading the way in sustainability. The study’s authors pointed out that grocery store meals often lack pre-portioned servings, leading to significant food waste. In fact, grocery shopping generates a staggering 33% more greenhouse gases compared to meal kit services, alongside heightened transportation emissions.
“Meal kits are designed to minimize food waste,” noted Dr. Emma Thompson, the lead researcher from the University of Michigan. “While the packaging may seem worse, the real issue lies in food waste and the logistics of transportation, which account for the primary environmental impacts of these two methods.”
To validate their findings, the researchers conducted a practical test by preparing five meals from Blue Apron and purchasing the same ingredients from a grocery store. They meticulously tracked every piece of food, plastic, and cardboard used in both scenarios. Surprisingly, the results favored the meal kits.
But what about all that cardboard and plastic? Dr. Thompson emphasized the crucial trade-off between packaging waste and reduced food waste. “Our findings may surprise many, especially since meal kits often receive negative attention for their packaging. However, the extra chicken breast that you buy from the grocery store, only to end up freezer-burned and tossed out, has a much more detrimental environmental impact due to the resources required to produce it.”
This shift in consumer behavior is notable; in 2018, meal kit services raked in an impressive $3.1 billion in sales, with a growth rate of 22%. According to a Nielsen survey, 25% of respondents indicated they planned to order a meal kit within the next six months. “The way people shop for food is changing dramatically, and meal kits are poised to play a significant role,” stated University of Michigan doctoral candidate Alex Carter. “To lessen the overall impact of the food system, it’s essential to continue reducing food loss and waste while also improving transportation logistics and packaging.”
As the realities of climate change loom larger every day, meal kits could represent a smart choice for reducing our carbon footprint. If you’re interested in learning more about fertility options, check out our post on navigating your couples fertility journey.
In summary, meal kits may be packaged in materials that raise environmental concerns, but they actually result in less food waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to grocery shopping. As consumer preferences evolve and the demand for sustainability increases, meal kit services could play a vital role in the future of food consumption.
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