Seafood Packaging: Can We Reduce Its Environmental Impact?

Published Date : 15 October 2025

Posted by : Abhishek Bhardwaj

The global seafood industry plays a crucial role in feeding the world's increasing population, with an estimated 179 million tonnes of seafood produced in 2020, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). However, with this scale of production arises a remarkable environmental footprint, particularly through the packaging systems used to preserve, transport, and market seafood products.

Seafood packaging, while essential for food safety and shelf life, often depends on non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics, polystyrene boxes, and other environmentally harmful materials. These packaging materials contribute to marine pollution, landfill overflow, and greenhouse gas emissions. With rising awareness of sustainability and stricter environmental regulations, the question arises about whether there is any way to reduce the burden on the environment due to seafood packaging. This blog highlights the important role of the industry, challenges, innovative solutions, industry trends, and actionable strategies that can make seafood packaging more sustainable without compromising on food safety or economic viability.

Why Packaging Matters in the Seafood Industry

Seafood is a highly perishable product. Proper packaging plays a vital role in:

• Preserving freshness and extending shelf life
• Preventing microbial contamination
• Enabling efficient cold chain logistics
• Communicating product information and branding

Because of these requirements, plastic packaging dominates the seafood sector, particularly multi-layer films, vacuum-sealed plastics, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam containers. According to a report by Research Nester, the global seafood packaging market was valued at USD 11.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 15.8 billion by 2035, driven by increasing seafood consumption and export demand. But this growth also increases the environmental consequences unless more sustainable alternatives are adopted.

Environmental Impact of Conventional Seafood Packaging

1. Plastic Waste in Marine Ecosystems: A significant percentage of marine debris comes from discarded packaging, particularly plastic film and EPS foam. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) predicts that 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans annually, harming marine life through ingestion and entanglement. Seafood packaging, especially from coastal processing plants and fishing vessels, contributes directly to this pollution.

2. Carbon Footprint and Resource Use: The production of plastic packaging is energy-intensive, often relying on fossil fuels. For instance:

• 1 kg of plastic packaging discharges about 6 kg of CO₂ over its lifecycle.
• Polystyrene foam used in seafood boxes is non-recyclable and takes more than 500 years to decompose.

Regulatory Pressure and Consumer Demand for Change

Governments and consumers are demanding more eco-conscious practices. A few of them are mentioned below:

• EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive bans EPS food containers and urges the adoption of recyclable and compostable alternatives.
• Canada and several U.S. states, like California and New York, are gradually eliminating non-recyclable plastics.
• Consumers increasingly choose seafood brands with eco-labels and transparent sustainability practices.

Innovative Solutions: Sustainable Alternatives for Seafood Packaging

Sustainable packaging must balance functionality, food safety, cost, and environmental performance equally. Here are several favorable alternatives already in use or under development:

1. Biodegradable and Compostable Materials

• PLA (Polylactic Acid): A plant-based polymer derived from corn starch or sugarcane used for clear trays and films.
• Pulp-based packaging: These are made from recycled paper or sugarcane bagasse; highly suitable for dry and semi-moist seafood.
• Chitosan films: This film is derived from crustacean shells; these biodegradable films have antimicrobial properties, improving shelf life.

A recent instance of biodegradable and compostable materials can be Norway’s Leroy Seafood Group, which has replaced almost 60% of its EPS trays with recyclable PET and pulp trays, reducing annual plastic usage by over 200 tonnes.

2. Recyclable Rigid Plastics: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and PP (Polypropylene) can be recycled multiple times if kept uncontaminated. Many seafood retailers now use mono-material trays that are compatible with existing recycling systems. For instance, Walmart Canada replaced black plastic seafood trays with clear PET trays, resulting in 25 million more trays being recyclable annually.

3. Edible and Water-Soluble Films: Edible films built from seaweed, starch, or gelatin provide a dual-purpose innovation, preserving the product and leaving no waste behind. Startups like Evoware in Indonesia and Notpla of the UK are developing edible films derived from seaweed that dissolve harmlessly in water and biodegrade in days.

Cold Chain Innovations and Bulk Packaging

A large portion of seafood packaging waste arises from individual packaging for retail distribution. Alternatives include:

• Reusable insulated shipping containers (RISC): Made from durable plastics or metal, these containers reduce single-use EPS reliance.
• Bulk packaging with internal dividers can minimize material use during large-scale distribution.
• Vacuum skin packaging (VSP) lowers the need for multiple plastic layers while expanding shelf life. For instance, New Zealand-based Sanford Limited switched to reusable plastic crates for local seafood delivery, cutting down 20 tonnes of packaging annually.

Challenges in Sustainable Packaging

Despite the advancements in seafood packaging, several barriers hamper the widespread adoption of sustainable seafood packaging:

1. Cost Implications: Biodegradable materials often cost 20–50% higher than conventional plastics, which can affect adoption in cost-sensitive markets.
2. Food Safety Concerns: Ensuring microbial safety and regulatory compliance (FDA, EFSA) with new materials can be complicated.
3. Recycling Infrastructure Gaps: In many developing regions, even recyclable packaging is landfilled owing to inadequate waste segregation systems.
4. Shelf-Life Trade-offs: Some biodegradable materials deliver less oxygen or moisture barrier protection, potentially declining product shelf life.

Actionable Steps for Industry Stakeholders

To effectively lower the environmental burden of seafood packaging, a multi-stakeholder partnership is essential. Here's how various players can contribute:

Seafood Producers and Processors

• Audit and reduce packaging material usage.
• Invest in research and development for sustainable and better alternatives.
• Partner with startups that are focused on the circular economy.

Retailers and Distributors

• Integrate mandatory green packaging standards into procurement contracts.
• Encourage pilot programs and initiatives for reusable container logistics.

Governments and Regulators

• Provide extra subsidies and incentives for eco-friendly packaging material adoption.
• Implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs.
• Improve waste management facilities in coastal areas.

For Consumers

• Choose seafood products that are certified to be sustainable and come with minimal eco-friendly packaging.
• Dispose of seafood packaging mindfully through recycling or composting.

The Future Outlook: Towards a Greener Packaging Era

The seafood industry is at a critical juncture, with rising environmental scrutiny over its current packaging practices. With surging environmental demands, the seafood industry is being urged to adopt more sustainable packaging solutions. The next decade will likely witness:

• Material innovation, such as algae-based films, mushroom packaging, and nanotechnology-infused bio-barriers.
• Increased use of digital labeling (QR codes) to reduce printing waste and provide transparency.
• Global alignment of standards to make sure recyclability and compostability are universally defined and enforced.

According to Research Nester, the global sustainable seafood packaging market is predicted to register a CAGR of 6.9% from 2024 to 2035, reaching USD 21.5 billion by 2035. This shift is not merely about compliance but about future-proofing the seafood industry. Reducing the environmental strain of seafood packaging can protect marine biodiversity, cut carbon emissions, and build consumer trust in a more responsible global food system.

Final Thoughts

Sustainable seafood packaging is no longer a niche concern; it is a strategic imperative. With more scalable innovations, policy support, and market awareness, the seafood packaging industry has feasible routes to reduce its environmental footprint. While challenges remain, the collaborative push toward greener materials, smarter logistics, and responsible disposal can reshape seafood packaging for good. Thus, by adopting sustainable solutions now, the seafood sector can help not just in meeting global food needs of the planet but also in protecting it.