This report compares the environmental impacts of single-use plastic packaging versus alternative options for supermarket food, intended for home consumption. The report is part of a series of meta-analyses of Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies that provides recommendations to policy makers on alternatives to commonly used single-use plastic products. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a well-established tool for assessing the potential environmental impacts associated with a product or service across its whole value chain.

The report draws recommendations for policy makers and LCA practitioners on what supermarket food packaging solutions have the least environmental footprint. This report is the last of a series of meta-analyses of LCA studies on 9 single-use plastic products and their alternatives, in response to Resolution 9 of the fourth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA4), on “Addressing Single-use plastic pollution”.