September 8, 2025 – As concerns about plastic waste grow and more places ban single-use plastics, edible food packaging offers a more sustainable choice. Innova Market Insights analyzes global trends in edible packaging, including positioning, flavors, and new product development.
Consumer Awareness and Fighting Against Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution is a big issue. Edible food packaging is a new trend spurred by consumer interest in sustainability and innovation. Awareness of edible food packaging solutions is increasing, and many consumers want to try them. Packaging trends reveal that 14% of global consumers know a lot about edible packaging innovations, while 26% are very interested in them. Edible packaging benefits the environment by cutting down on plastic waste, appealing to consumers, and promoting more research and development.
Sustainability is the Key Driver of Edible Food Packaging
Edible food packaging provides a sustainable alternative to food packaging because it is safe to eat and protects food from external influences. It comes in various forms such as sachets, wraps, and films. Government regulations banning single-use plastics have increased research into edible packaging for food, and its ability to preserve and improve food quality at the same time has contributed to the growing scientific interest in this technology.
Leading Innovators of Edible Food Packaging
Notpla is a leading company in edible food packaging alternatives to plastics. Universities are also leaders in research and development. Notpla’s patents focus on a special alginate solution for making edible food packaging that safely holds liquids, sauces, oils, and other foods. These packaging solutions are biodegradable, durable, and edible, which supports eco-friendly values. Another innovator, Xampla, holds patents for natural, plant-based films made from proteins and polysaccharides. This makes them suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Big brands like Nestlé are also involved with edible food packaging solutions. They aim to meet their sustainability goals by finding options that preserve food and help the environment.
Reducing Single-Use Plastic
Notpla, which means “not plastic,” focuses on regenerative packaging made from plant-based materials. To address plastic waste, Notpla created seaweed-based packaging that can replace single-use plastics. Their edible seaweed material is used for sauce sachets, seasonings, takeaway box liners, and films for solid foods, effectively taking the place of flexible plastic bags.
Evoware makes eco-friendly packaging using rice, cassava, and seaweed. Their seaweed sachets are edible, biodegradable, and compostable at home. These sachets provide nutritional benefits like fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Forest and Whale is a design studio that aims to reduce single-use plastic with new edible packaging solutions. They have developed containers from wheat husk pellets and natural binders for packing dry foods. Common ingredients in edible food packaging include whey, soy, chitosan, and cellulose, highlighting various options for future food innovation.
Protein-Based Edible Packaging as Eco-Friendly Solutions
Xampla is focused on getting rid of polluting plastics by creating biodegradable and edible films from plant-based protein for food packaging. Their patented technology, Morro materials, offers a high-performance substitute for traditional plastics. These films do not contain any chemicals, are completely compostable, and dissolve while cooking without altering the food’s flavor or color.
Lactips has made edible packaging for food and drinks from casein, a milk protein. Their bio-based plastics feature excellent oxygen barrier properties, which help keep products like meat, vegetables, and fish fresh and of high quality. These safe-to-eat films offer an eco-friendly option for packaging.
What’s Next in Global Edible Food Packaging Trends?
Clear labeling and raising consumer awareness are key to increasing the use of edible food packaging. Innovations include adding flavors to improve the taste of the packaging and mask the unpleasant flavors from seaweed or protein-based films.
Additionally, embedded sensors in edible packaging can track food freshness, ripeness, temperature, and pH levels. Brands should aim to create stronger and cheaper materials while incorporating smart sensors for real-time data. It’s also important to ensure that edible food packaging is scalable and acceptable to consumers to promote widespread use.
This article is based on Innova’s Trending in Edible Food Packaging – Global report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more