Increased public awareness of environmental impacts associated with packaging has caused companies to seek out more sustainable materials to package their goods. Investigation into the comparative environmental impact of frozen meal trays was conducted due to a perceived environmental benefit associated with a switch from traditional plastics to fiber packaging materials. Life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a highly defensible method for comparing the full life cycle impact of alternatives, but consumer perception of packaging sustainability largely focuses on material attributes associated with the end of life phase, such as recyclability and compostability. A preliminary review of published life cycle literature and a detailed look at the end of life section of the life cycle with a specific focus on consumer access to waste management infrastructure in the United States were used to better understand the comparative environmental impact of frozen meal trays produced from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), coated paperboard, and molded fiber. General trends in comparative impact between plastic and fiber alternatives were identified in published literature, but a lack of studies focused on the target package and materials indicates a need for further life cycle assessment to elucidate the comparative impact of the frozen meal trays. Analysis of consumer access to waste management showed that the ability of a package to be handled by an end of life option deemed preferable does not automatically imply associated environmental benefits will be achieved.
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