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Industry publication ‘Packaging Digest’ reports that two US companies are planning to develop and market edible packaging.

Edible packaging developed by Dr David Edwards at WikiCells comes in the form of thin membranes made from polymers and food particles.

The WikiCells packaging mimics casings you can find in nature, such as a grape skin. Dr Edwards’ team has come up with a chocolate flavoured membrane that holds hot chocolate, and an orange-tasting skin containing orange juice.

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Rival company MonoSol has come up with water soluble packaging that so far has been used to create washing detergent capsules. The outer skin dissolves when exposed to water, which means that as yet the technology can only be used with dry goods.

MonoSol CEO P. Scott Bening told media recently that he considers instant coffee, oatmeal and hot chocolate to have the potential to be big earners in the edible packaging market.

Excess packaging has long been a sore point for entry-level eco-warriors still shopping at supermarkets.

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As anyone who has taken part in the annual Clean Up Australia Day will know, the litter that clogs our waterways is mostly food wrappers, potato chip bags and drink bottles.

There are a few problems that need to be sorted out before edible food packaging is a reality. Hygiene is one - would you be keen to snack on a muesli bar that had been handled by numerous people during manufacture, delivery and retail before ending up in your hands?

Then there’s the psychological barrier of becoming accustomed to seeing your food wrapping dissolve into your food, or munching on a carton.