The paper evaluates how food life cycle assessments (LCAs) address both direct and indirect environmental impacts of packaging. It finds that while there’s increasing awareness of indirect impacts (like effects on food waste and logistics), food LCAs predominantly focus on direct impacts, such as material production and disposal. The study, which reviewed 32 recent food LCAs, suggests a need for more comprehensive consideration of indirect impacts and calls for further research to better understand how packaging characteristics affect environmental outcomes.