Recycled plastics can significantly help mitigate the world’s growing waste crisis, but this potential can only be safely realized if food packaging is carefully and strictly regulated to prevent contamination. This critical condition was highlighted in a comprehensive new analysis by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), published on May 13, 2026, which also examined the hidden dangers of microplastics and alternative packaging materials.
A Rapidly Growing Market and Low Recycling Rates
Food packaging plays a central and essential role in modern food systems: it preserves food quality, extends shelf life, and significantly reduces food loss. The sector is growing at an exceptionally rapid pace. According to estimates, the market is projected to grow from $505 billion in 2024 to more than $815 billion by 2030.
However, the rapid expansion of plastic packaging has fueled serious environmental concerns. To date, less than 10 percent of global plastic waste has been recycled, although this share is expected to rise as countries increasingly pursue various sustainability goals. Vittorio Fattori, a food security officer at the FAO, emphasized that plastic waste is a growing global problem. According to the expert, better and more effective recycling is fundamental and is part of the solution. However, he also warned that while we need to be better at reducing plastic pollution and improving recycling, we must ensure that by trying to solve a problem in one area, we do not create new ones.
A Complex and Hazardous Recycling Chain
Unlike many other recycled product categories, food packaging must meet strict chemical safety standards. Plastic food containers and wrappers can contain thousands of substances used during the manufacturing process, including various stabilizers, coatings, pigments, and plasticizers. Furthermore, additional contaminants may enter the system during the recycling process due to improper sorting, environmental exposure, or previous consumer use.
The FAO analysis also found that recycled plastics can contain higher levels of substances such as metals, flame retardants, phthalates, and persistent organic pollutants than newly produced plastics. Experts stress, however, that recycled plastics approved for food use can be exactly as safe as virgin plastics, provided they undergo rigorous cleaning, decontamination, and regulatory review processes. A prime example is the European Union (EU), where authorized recycled food-contact materials must strictly meet the same standards as new plastics.
According to Vittorio Fattori, the report’s main finding is that while recycled plastic and alternative food contact materials can offer environmental benefits, they can also raise important food safety questions. He added that applying the principles of a circular economy is fundamental, but it must be done right.
New Materials, New Risks
The FAO analysis also extensively examines alternative packaging materials, including bioplastics, plant fibres, and protein-based materials, which are increasingly promoted in the market as more sustainable substitutes for conventional plastics. However, the report firmly warns that the “bio-based” label does not always mean the material is biodegradable. Some materials derived from renewable sources, such as corn or sugarcane, are chemically similar to fossil fuel-based plastics, while other alternatives break down only under highly specific conditions.
Plant-based packaging may also introduce risks linked to agriculture, including pesticide residues, toxins, and heavy metals. In the case of protein-based materials, there is a risk that allergens—such as gluten—could migrate into the food. Like conventional plastics, many alternative solutions rely heavily on chemical additives to improve performance and durability, while often still lacking sufficient long-term safety data.
The Poorly Understood Dangers of Microplastics
The analysis also addresses growing public concern over microplastics and nanoplastics found in food and beverages. Scientists have already detected tiny plastic particles in human blood, lungs, breast milk, and placentas, which clearly confirms widespread exposure. Regulators, however, currently lack reliable and harmonized methods to consistently detect and measure these particles, making it extremely difficult to accurately assess the clear risks to human health.
The report also points out that recycling facilities themselves can contribute to microplastic pollution. This problem is particularly significant during mechanical recycling processes that physically break plastics into smaller fragments. In this regard, Fattori emphasized that everything must start with well-controlled recycling processes, including the cleaning and removal of chemical contaminants.
Moving Towards Harmonized Global Standards
The findings of the research and analysis are expected to significantly inform the ongoing discussions at the Codex Alimentarius Commission—the international food standards body established jointly by the FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO). The report highlights that countries currently apply different regulatory approaches and standards to recycled plastics and food-contact materials, creating significant challenges for both international trade and consumer protection.
According to Vittorio Fattori, the organization’s role is to provide support to countries, primarily in harmonizing regulations regarding the food safety implications of packaging materials. The report concludes that introducing harmonized global standards would not only help countries strengthen their science-based food safety systems but would also provide effective assistance in reducing the global volume of plastic waste.
Reference and Official Source:
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UN News (May 13, 2026): Recycled plastics for food use require stronger safeguards, warn UN food security experts