Recycling and Reuse in Food Packaging a Sustainable and Circular Approach

 Food packaging plays a critical role in product safety, shelf-life extension, and logistics processes. However, the widespread use of single-use packaging has raised significant environmental concerns and sustainability issues. This book chapter reviews the historical and conceptual development of food packaging, material types (paper, plastic, glass, metal, and multilayer packaging), recycling and reuse systems. The study also discusses sustainable packaging design within the framework of circular economy, considering environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Findings indicate that material selection and recycling technologies are essential for waste management and resource efficiency. In the future, biobased materials, smart labels, and modular packaging designs are expected to provide innovative solutions in sustainable food packaging.