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ackaging

Lesson Objectives products that have minimal packaging, and

packaging that is recyclable, biodegradable and/or
After completing this lesson, students will be able made from renewable sources. Some people avoid
to: or reduce the need for packaging by buying their
food from local farmers markets or cooperatives or
• Classify different forms of packaging by the
even growing their own. By reducing our packaging
materials used and their ability to be recycled
consumption, we conserve energy, water, forests,
• Draw conclusions about the benefits of minerals and landfill space, and avoid greenhouse
packaging as well as the environmental costs gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
• Discuss how they can make responsible
choices when buying packaged products.
Introduction
In this lesson students will discuss the social and
Background Information environmental benefits and costs of packaging.
Packaging plays an important role in our food
supply system. Packaging preserves food, protects
it from contamination, allows easy handling Duration
and transport, prolongs shelf life and maintains This activity may require two or three lesson
freshness and quality. Packaging and food periods to complete: one for the packaging study
preservation allows many people to enjoy a greater and materials research, and at least one more for
diversity of food products than ever before.
the group presentations and class discussion.
Food packaging has an environmental benefit Alternatively, the packaging study could be
as it can help prevent food spoilage – but it also allocated as homework.
has environmental costs. These environmental
costs include the energy and water used in
extracting and transporting the natural resources, Materials
manufacturing the packaging product and finally
recycling or disposing of the packaging. • Supermarket catalogues – ask students to
collect these for a few weeks before the lesson.
Food packaging has increased for many reasons
over the past decades, including increased • Internet access, or access to information about
demand for convenience/pre-prepared foods, packaging materials such as Planet Ark’s
long-distance transportation of food and ease of Recycle Right Factsheets about aluminium, milk
handling at the point of sale. and juice cartons, glass, paper and cardboard,
plastic bags and steel.
There are a number of ways we can reduce the
environmental impact of our packaging whilst still • One copy per student of the activity sheet in
enjoying good quality products. We can choose this lesson plan.

This resource has been adap

ted from a lesson plan origi
nally published by Planet
Ark and the Australian Asso
ciation for Environmental
Education in 1998.
Activities
1. Packaging study 3. Group presentations
Individually or in groups, ask students to complete Each group presents their research to the class.
the packaging table in Section A of the activity The class should now be able to complete Section
sheet in this lesson plan, using the supermarket B of the activity sheet.
catalogues to help them identify types of packaging
for different food items and products.
4. Class discussion
2. Class research Discuss the social and environmental benefits and
costs of packaging as a class, using the questions
a. Split the class into six groups and allocate a in Section C of the activity sheet as a guide.
material to each group: aluminium, glass, paper
and cardboard, plastic, polystyrene and steel.
b. Ask each group to research their material to find
out whether it is biodegradable, recyclable or
renewable (or none of these).
c. If a material is recyclable, the group should
identify how to recycle it correctly e.g. can
it be placed in the local council’s kerbside
recycling bins, or must it go through an
alternative recycling collection program? For
information on whether items are accepted
for recycling by your local council, or to
identify alternative recycling options, search
on RecyclingNearYou.com.au. Each group
should also describe the basic steps in the
recycling process. For information about the
recycling process, consult Planet Ark’s Recycle
Right factsheets or other suitable sources.
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ackaging Activity Sheet

Name Date

Section A: Packaging Study

For each of the products in the table, identify how they are packaged and place a tick (Yes) or a
cross (No) in the columns. Some products may be available in more than one type of packaging.

meat milk juice soft drink milk shake cereal vegies fruit ice cream takeaway
meal

PACKAGING

Aluminium

Cardboard

Carton

Paper

Glass

Plastic

Plastic film
or bag

Polystyrene

Steel

Section B: Properties of Packaging

Identify any of the packaging materials in the table that are:

Biodegradable:

Recyclable:

Renewable:
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ackaging Activity Sheet

Section C: Discussion
1. Is packaging necessary? Give reasons.

2. What are the environmental costs of packaging? Be as specific as possible.

3. Which type(s) of packaging do you think is/are the most environmentally-friendly? Give reasons.

4. Are there situations where you could avoid packaging or choose packaging options that are more
environmentally-friendly? Give some examples.

5. Do you think that you can influence a manufacturer’s choice of packaging? Yes No
If Yes, how would you do this?

If you don’t think you can, why not?