Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Natural leaf-type as food packaging material for traditional food in Nigeria: sustainability aspects and theoretical circular economy solutions

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Global call for healthy and sustainable food production and consumption has been loud, and the majority of these calls center on ensuring food security through sustainable agriculture. The other parts of the food supply chain such as consumption, packaging, recycling, and food waste management seem to be overlooked especially by developing nations of the world where attention is mainly placed on production. But in the broad sense, public health and environmental quality could be adversely impacted by neglect, mismanagement, or loophole on any of these food management systems. Hence, the current work studies the health and environmental impacts of local food packaging materials, adopting Nigeria as a proxy for the developing world. A review was first conducted to appraise the sustainability aspects of achieving and using natural leaves as a packaging material for traditional foods in Nigeria. The result of the review rightly shows that leaf-type packaging material has several apparent health and environmental advantages for food packaging. In view of this, the current work proposes a theoretical circular economy model that would ensure the constant and sustainable availability of these local packaging materials, especially in the urban centers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Abdullahi N (2014) Hazard chemicals in some food packaging materials (a review). Ann Food Sci Technol 15(1):115–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Adejumo BA, Ola FA (2008) The appraisal of local food packaging materials in Nigeria. Cont J Eng Sci 3:13–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Adeyeye SA (2017) Safety issues in traditional West African foods: a critical review. J Culinary Sci Technol 15(2):101–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aluko OO, Ojeremi TT, Olaleke DA, Ajidagba EB (2014) Evaluation of food safety and sanitary practices among food vendors in Ile Ife, southwestern Nigeria. Food Control 40:165–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arah IK, Kumah EK, Anku EK, Amaglo H (2015) An overview of post-harvest loses in tomato production in Africa. Causes and possible prevention strategies. J Biol Agric Healthc 5(16):78–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Asthana DK (2006) Text book of environmental studies. New Delhi, S Chand & Company Ltd, p 397

    Google Scholar 

  • Center for Science in the public interest (CSPI) (2005) Food safety around the world. CSPI, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Chukuezi CO (2010) Entrepreneurs of the street: socio-economic features of street food vending in Owerri, Nigeria. Eur J Soc Sci 146(2):183–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Clayton DA, Griffith DJ, Price P, Peters AC (2002) Food handlers beliefs, and self-reported practices. Int J Environ Health Res 12:25–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen M (1990) Women and urban street trade: some implications for policy. Working paper 55 of the office of women in development, USAID

  • Dainelli D, Gontard N, Spyropolous D, Zondervan-van, de Beuken E, Tobback P (2008) Active and intelligent food packaging; legal aspects and safety concerns. Trends Food Sci Technol 19(1):S103–S113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Zeeuw H, Prain G (2011) Effects of the global financial crisis and food price hikes of 2007/2008 on the food security of the poor urban households. Urban Agric Mag 25:36–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekpa O, Palacious-Rojas N, Kruseman G, Fogliano V, Linnemann AR (2019) Sub-Saharan African maize-based foods-processing practices, Challenges and Opportunities. Food Rev Int 35:609–639. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2019.1588290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2019) Concept: what is a circular economy? A framework for an economy that is restorative by design. Available online at https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/concept. Accessed 20 July 2020

  • Essuman KM (1990) Local packaging of foods in Ghana. Food Nutr Bull 12:1-5 Available online at: https://doi.org/10.1177/156482659001200101 Accessed 1 June 2019

  • Ezeudu OB, Ezeudu TS (2019) Implementation of circular economy principles in industrial solid waste management: case studies from a developing economy (Nigeria). Recycling. 4(4):42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ezeudu OB, Ozoegwu CG, Madu CN (2019a) A statistical regression method for characterization of household solid waste: a case study of Awka municipality in Nigeria. Recycling. 4:1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ezeudu OB, Agunwamba JC, Ezeasor IC, Madu CN (2019b) Sustainable production and consumption of paper and paper product in Nigeria. A review. Resources 8(1):53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2008) The state of food insecurity in the world high food prices and food security—threats and opportunities, food and agriculture organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy

  • Ferronato N, Rada EC, Portillo MA, Cioca LI, Ragazzi M, Torretta V (2019) Introduction of circular economy within developing regions: a comparative analysis of advantages and opportunities for waste valorization. J Environ Manag 230:366–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fields GS (1990) Labour market modelling and urban informal sector: theory and evidence. In: Tumham D, Salome B, Schwartz A (eds) The informal sector revisited. OECD, Paris, pp 298–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Food Aid Foundation (2019) Hunger Statistics. Available online: http://www.foodaidfoundation.org/world-hunger-statistics.html. Accessed 17 Aug 2020

  • Forster A (2013) Sustainability: best practices in the food industry. J Undergrad Res XVI. http://rootshyft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Sustainability-Alexandra-Forster.pdf. Accessed 17 Oct 2020

  • Gerland P, Raftery AE et al (2014) World population stabilization unlikely this century. Science 346(6206):234–237 Available online: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/346/6206/234. Accessed 10 June 2019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Geueke B, Groh K, Muncke J (2018) Food packaging in the circular economy: overview of chemical safety aspects for commonly used materials. J Clean Prod 193:491–505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh PR, Fawcett D, Sharma SB, Poinern GEJ (2016) Progress towards sustainable utilization and management of food waste in the global economy. Int J Food Sci:3563478. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3563478

  • Gomez-Baggethun E, Barton DN (2013) Classifying and valuing ecosystem services for urban planning. Ecol Econ 86:235–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haas W, Krausmann F, Wledenhofer D, Helnz M (2015) How circular is the global economy? An assessment of material flows, waste production, and recycling in the European Union and the world in 2005. J Ind Ecol 19:765–777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall C, Dawson TP, MacDiarmid JI, Mathews RB, Smith P (2017) The impact of population growth and climate change on food security in Africa: looking ahead to 2050. Int J Agric Sustain 15(2):124–135. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1293929

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idowu IA, Altherton W, Hashim K, Kot P, Alkharddar R, Alo BI, Shaw A (2019) An analyses of status of landfill classification systems in developing countries: sub-Sahara African landfill experiences. Waste Manag 87:761–771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kong L, Lau KK, Yuan C, Chen Y, Xu Y, Ren C, Ng E (2017) Regulation of outdoor thermal comfort by trees in Hong Kong. Sustain Cities Soc 31:12–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2017.01.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laistrooglai A, Mosikarat P, Wigran M (2000) Packaging design with natural materials: a study of conservation. Silpacom University research and development institute. Available online at: http://www.thaiscience.info/journals/Article/SUIJ/10559514.pdf. Accessed 17 Aug 2020

  • Li R, Hu H-B, Li X-F, Zhang P, Xu YK, Yang J-J (2015) Essentials oils composition and bioactivities of two species leaves used as packaging materials in Xishuangbanna, China. Food Control 51:9–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh K, Bugusu B (2007) Food packaging-roles, materials and environmental issues. Inst Food Technol. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00301.x

  • Mensah P, Yeboah-Manu D, Owusu-Darko K, Ablordey A (2002) Street foods in Africa: how safe are they? Bull World Health Organ 80(7):546–554

    Google Scholar 

  • Mensah JK, Adei E, Adei D, Ashie MD (2012) Perceptions of the use of indigenous leaves as packaging materials in the ready-to-eat cornmeals. Int J Biol Chem Sci 6(3):1051–1068

    Google Scholar 

  • Mensah JO, Aidoo R, Teye AN (2013) Analysis of street food consumption across various income groups in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. Int Rev Manage Bus Res 2(4):951

    Google Scholar 

  • Mustafa M, Nagalingan S, Tye J, Hardy Shafii AS, Dolah J (2012) Looking back to the past: revival of traditional food packaging. Regional conference On local Knowledge. 15–16 October, jerejak Rainforest Resort, Penang

  • Nguimkeu PA (2014) Structural econometric analysis of the informal sector heterogeneity. J Dev Econ 107:175–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oguntoyinbo FA (2014) Safety challenges associated with traditional foods of West Africa. Food Rev Int 30(4):338–358

  • Ojo EO, Adebayo PF (2012) Food security in Nigeria: an overview. Eur J Sustain Dev 1(2):199–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olaoye OA, Ntuen IG (2011) Spoilage and preservation of meat: a general appraisal and potential of lactic acid bacteria as biological preservatives. Int Res J Biotechnol 2:33–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozoegwu CG, Eze C, Onwosi CO, Mgbemene CA, Ozor PA (2017) Biomass and bioenergy potential of cassava waste in Nigeria: estimations based partly on rural-garri processing case studies. Renew Sust Energ Rev 72:625–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pal M, Devrani M, Hadush A (2019) Recent developments in food packaging technologies. Beverage Food World 46(1):21–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajagopalan K (2018) Benefits of eating in Banana leaf. Anudinam, sri vashinava news forum. Published February 1, 2018. Available online at: https://anudinam.org/2018/02/01/benefits-of-eating-in-banana-leaf/. Accessed 20 Aug 2020

  • Reisch L, Eberie U, Lorek S (2013) Sustainable food consumption: an overview of contemporary issues and policies. Sustain Sci Pract Policy J 9(2):7–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Salguero-Puerta L, Leyva-Diaz JC, Cortez-Garcia J, Molina-Molino V (2019) Sustainability indicators concerning waste management for implementation of the circular economy model on the University of Lome (Togo), Campus. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(12):2234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salmond JA, Tadaki M, Vardoulakis S, Arbuttnott K, Coutts A, Demuzere M, Dirks KM, Heavisde C, Lim S, Macintyre H, Mclnnes RN, Wheeler BW (2016) Health and climate-related ecosystem services provided by street trees in the urban environment. Environ Health 15(1):S36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarlet N, Motola V, Dallenmand JF, Monforti-Ferrario E, Mofor L (2015) Evaluation of energy potential of municipal solid waste from African urban areas. Renew Sust Energ Rev 50:1269–1286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider F (2002) Size and measurement of the informal sector in 110 countries around the world. Paper presented at the workshop of Australian national tax center. ANU, Canberra, Australia. July 17, Available online: http://www.amnet.co.il/attachments/informal_economy110.pdf. Accessed 17 June 2019

  • Seth MK (2003) Trees and their economic importance. Bot Rev 69(4):321–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheth J (2011) Mindful consumption: a customer-centric approach to sustainability. Published on January 14, 2011. Available online: https://www.jagsheth.com/consumer-behavior/mindful-consumption-a-customer-centric-approach-to-sustainability/. Accessed 5 June 2019

  • Smit W (2016) Urban governance and urban food system in Africa: examining the linkages. Cities. 58:80–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stahel WR (2016) The circular economy. Nature 531:435–438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steel C (2008) Hungry cities: how food shapes our lives. Chatto and Windus, London

    Google Scholar 

  • The World Bank (2012) What a waste: a global review of solid waste management. In: The urban development series knowledge paper. The World Bank, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Ukenna SI, Ayodele AA (2019) Applying the extended theory of planned behavior to predict sustainable street food patronage in a developing economy. J Food Prod Mark 25:404–434. https://doi.org/10.1080/10454446.2019.1572561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) (2011) Levels and trends in child mortality, Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation

  • Varum, Sharma A, Nautiyal H (2016) Environmental impacts of packaging materials. In environmental footprints of packaging. Springer Science, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh J (2010) Street vending and the dynamics of informal economy: evidence from Vung. Tau, Vietnam. Asian Soc Sci 8(11):159–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson DC, Rodic L, Modak P, Soos R, Carpintero A, Velis K, Iyer M, Simonett O (2015) The global waste management outlook report. United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, 410001, Nigeria

    Obiora B. Ezeudu, Jonah C. Agunwamba, Uzochukwu C. Ugochukwu & Ikenna C. Ezeasor

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria

    Jonah C. Agunwamba

  3. Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, 410001, Nigeria

    Tochukwu S. Ezeudu

Authors
  1. Obiora B. Ezeudu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jonah C. Agunwamba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tochukwu S. Ezeudu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Uzochukwu C. Ugochukwu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ikenna C. Ezeasor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

OBE conceptualized, investigated, formally analyzed the research data, and wrote the original draft of the manuscript. TSE and ICE substantially reviewed and revised the manuscript. UCU and JCA supervised the project. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Obiora B. Ezeudu.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent to publish

Not applicable.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Philippe Loubet

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ezeudu, O.B., Agunwamba, J.C., Ezeudu, T.S. et al. Natural leaf-type as food packaging material for traditional food in Nigeria: sustainability aspects and theoretical circular economy solutions. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 8833–8843 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11268-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11268-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation