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

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 metal cans made by aluminium or tinplate and glass jars. The aim of this study was to perform a life cycle assessment of four seafood canned products in glass jars with Atlantic chub mackerel and albacore tuna. The contribution of end-of-life options for glass jar (reuse, recycle or landfill) was also evaluated, as well as environmental burden of storage at home scenarios of canned, chilled and frozen fish productspotential seafood waste in the different supply chains.

Glass jar packaging contribution to environmental assessment of products was half compared with metal cans. The production of ingredients was the life cycle phase with highest contribution in all products followed by primary packaging for climate change impact category. Results pointed out the benefits of recycling glass jar with 8% GHG emissions reduction on average. Storage at the consumer stage represented less GHG emissions for canned products when compared to frozen when considering a period of more than one month.