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Reusable packaging is not necessarily more environmentally friendly

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Biotechnology

These days, the results of the project "Life cycle analysis of packaging for fresh fish products" are being processed. The project was carried out by students in environmental and resource science in collaboration with the University of Iceland, Matís and Sæplast. 

In the project in question, a life cycle analysis was performed for disposable packaging of fresh fish products and they were compared with reusable packaging. The life cycle analysis involves an assessment and assessment of the environmental impact of the packaging at all stages of its life cycle, so it is safe to say that there are many angles to look at and it is important to look at them from a variety of perspectives. Fish and fish products are exported from Iceland in large quantities every day, often in disposable packaging. The environmental impact can therefore be significant and the life cycle analysis of packaging is one step towards improvement.

An article on the progress of the project was recently published on the University of Iceland's website, which was based on an interview with Ólafur Ögmundarson, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Food and Nutrition at the University of Iceland. He is one of three instructors involved in the project, along with two environmental and resource science students, Nouraiz Nazar and Heidi Marie Kalvenes. Ólafur's supervisors were Björn Margeirsson, research director at Sæplast and associate professor of industrial and mechanical engineering at the University of Iceland, and Sæmundur Elíasson, Matís employee and doctoral student at the University of Iceland.

The article can be read in its entirety on the University of Iceland's website here.

Continued research and development is expected to improve transport processes and minimize the environmental impact of those that can be based on the results of this collaborative project.

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