Best-Before-food-label

Indicators on Packaging to Reduce Waste

Food labels on packaging are designed to make it easier for shoppers to make informed decisions, yet they often leave consumers confused.

A recent survey by Hello Fresh identified that nearly half of respondents weren’t clear about what the information meant. This was resulting in around £260 of food being wasted each year. With many families struggling financially, this is waste that no one can afford, so how can we reduce unnecessary waste?

Hello Fresh is one of the companies keen to promote the use of time temperature indications (TTI) on food packaging*. In trials, these labels have proven easier for consumers to understand. What’s more, they helped to reduce food waste by 15%.

What are Time Temperature Indicators?

Temperature is a useful factor in determining the shelf life of a product and is more reliable than a Best Before or Use By date. In the right conditions, food might last many days longer than the Use By date. However, if the consumable becomes too warm or is unintentionally frozen, for example during delivery, it can result in spoilage of the product.

Applying Indicators to Packaging

Applying time temperature indicators to food packaging and shipping boxes provides a simple and inexpensive means of monitoring quality and food safety. Time temperature indicators convert information into colour bars or dots that provide an easy way for readers to see if the product remains safe to eat or not.

What intelligent packaging solutions does your business use to reduce waste and enhance the customer experience?

* https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/hellofresh-survey-highlights-labelling-confusion-on-food-packs-03-07-2023