Decision on single‐use and reusable food packaging: searching for the optimal solution using a fuzzy mathematical approach

BACKGROUND: In modern food supply chains it is becoming increasingly important for companies to have sustainable product packaging systems. Deciding the protection, marketing, and logistical function of packaging, at optimal cost, is a very complex matter for professionals. The decision is usually between disposable (single‐use) and reusable (returnable) packaging solutions and their special characteristics. In practice, the focus of this decision is based on historical experience and traditions, taking a cost‐based and/or a criteria‐based approach. This considers a wide range of cost factors. Packaging cost is an important factor, but not the only one, in determining the optimal solution. RESULTS: This study presents a three‐dimensional fuzzy signature model with a fuzzy method that can be applied to the packaging decision problem to investigate the interconnections among factors that affect the final results, beyond simple binary logic. Two types of food packaging, beverage glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, were chosen to validate the usability of the model. CONCLUSION: Fuzzy signatures can model the subjectivity of human definitions and criteria using the knowledge of professionals – human knowledge, which is experienced under real conditions and is used in practice in the food‐packaging decision process. Food‐packaging decision components and the final decision can be determined by fuzzy algorithms using membership functions on aggregation and weighted values. © 2022 The Author. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.