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Katie Carson, Director for Corporate Affairs Food & Climate Policy at Tetra Pak, discusses how aseptic packaging strengthens food security

What is the role of packaging in food systems?

Packaging’ s primary role in food systems is to protect food from contamination, extend shelf life, and enable safe distribution across the supply chain. Packaging’ s ability to extend shelf-life is a key factor in expanding food access across the world, including regions far from farms or with limited or no access to refrigeration.

Aseptic carton packaging technology achieves this by enabling shelf life of up to a year without preservatives or cold chain distribution. This creates greater flexibility in how food can be stored and distributed, providing another pathway alongside refrigerated distribution to help food reach people safely. And because shelf-stable packaging protects food from spoiling, it also helps reduce food waste.

Without effective packaging, supply chains are put at risk, waste increases, and costs rise for households and governments alike. That’ s why we believe packaging should be recognized as critical infrastructure for resilient food systems and societies.

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