Dataset for Return for reuse plastic food packaging: simulated wear processes and assessment techniques

There is a need for research to support the transition away from single-use plastic packaging towards a circular economy. This research developed simulated wear processes and assessment techniques to evaluate the suitability of plastic food packaging types for reuse systems. Two thermoformed polyethylene terephthalate materials (rPET and heat-resistant PET) for food packaging trays were tested. We subjected both thermoformed packs to a range of simulated wear processes to emulate aspects of a potential reuse system, including wash cycles, simulated damage, surface scratching, and artificial fouling. Assessment techniques included using adenotriphosphate (ATP) swabs to determine cleanliness of the pack surface, and 3D scan data to measure physical change. The findings show that scratch damage applied to packs, following fouling and wash cycles, are food safe with readings under 30 relative light units (RLU) on ATP swabs. The heat-resistant PET packs exhibited minimal deformation throughout repeated wash cycles, demonstrating its appropriateness for a reuse system. The assessment techniques developed to evaluate the suitability of plastic materials for reuse systems have provided valuable insight into the cleaning, damage, and deformation of plastic packaging. These insights can support more complex decision making in the design and production of circular food-to-go plastic packaging solutions.

The file presented here contains, and makes open access, all data that underpins the manuscript: Return for reuse plastic food packaging: simulated wear processes and assessment techniques