A world without packaging is unthinkable. It offers numerous advantages in terms of hygiene, food safety, transport, reduction of food waste, etc., but the current impact of certain materials and uses on the environment is too big and unsustainable. 

Ghent University therefore wants to stimulate a switch towards 100% reusable, recyclable, compostable or biodegradable packaging, and prepare students to become experts in sustainable food packaging systems. 

The MSc in Sustainable Food Packaging brings the three domains (Sustainability, Food & Packaging) together and prepares students to design and/or optimise a food packaging system with a conscious and critical choice of resources and production methods, while at the same time considering the corporate or organisational culture, its mission and vision, and the broad socio-economic context:

“How we can keep food safe and preserve it for the required shelf-life using food packaging systems that are sustainable and balance the ecological footprint with ensuring access to high quality food and maintaining profitable food supply chains?”

The MSc in Sustainable Food Packaging is a one year programme but has a modular structure.

It is divided in five modules, allowing you to spread the programme over several years and study part-time. It does not follow the traditional semester system. Together with online teaching activities and evening classes, it offers you maximum flexibility to combine the programme with a career, family, hobbies, etc. 

You have two or three courses per block which allows you to process the content in a more focused and in-depth manner.
All blocks build upon each other in a logical sequence, but module 2 and 3 are interchangeable. This allows you to complete the programme in two or even three years. The exams for these respective courses take place after each modular block.