From Envirowiki

Packaging is generally used to either keep a number of smaller items together, or to keep food items fresh by sealing them. often packaging, especially of food items, is a waste material. It can sometimes be recycled, but often is thrown out, either to land fill, or just on the ground as litter.

[edit] Packaging types

packaging can be made from many things.

• Plastic is one of the most common types of food packaging, as it is economically cheap, impermeable (seals food), and lightweight. problems with plastic packaging include some types being non-recycleable, and litter, which sometimes directly kills animals. plastic is generally petrochemical based
• Paper is an older packaging material than plastic, and has been partly phased out due to the ease and impermeability of plastic. paper is made from trees, often old growth, but can be recycled.
• Aluminium is used as a thin foil to pack foods. it has one of the highest embodied energies of any common packaging material.
• Steel is used for food packaging as cans and tins.