Contribution of glass jar packaging to the environmental assessment of canned seafood products: Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) and Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) as case studies
Cheila Almeida, Sandra Ceballos‐Santos, Jara Laso, María Margallo, Rubén Aldaco, António Marques
Abstract
Canned seafood is a practical option for consumers with high nutritional value. However, packaging plays a key role in its environmental impacts due to the production of aluminium and tinplate cans. The aim of this study was to perform a life cycle assessment of four seafood canned products in glass jars with Atlantic chub mackerel or albacore tuna. The contribution of end-of-life options for glass jar (reuse, recycle or landfill) was also evaluated, as well as environmental burden from canned, chilled and frozen products stored at home. Glass jar packaging contribution to environmental assessment of products was half compared with metal cans. Results pointed out the benefits of recycling glass jar with 8% GHG emissions reduction on average. Storage at the consumer stage represents three times less GHG emissions for canned products when compared to frozen.