Primarily, food packaging needs to provide adequate protection for the food it contains. Coffee, for example, must be safeguarded not only against contaminants but also oxygen so it will maintain its freshness.
Plastic has many excellent features, which is why it has long been a dominant material in food packaging. Non-fossil alternatives, such as barrier papers, need to live up to these standards. Bio-based plastic made of wood-based bionaphtha is another good example of an alternative. It has same characteristics as fossil-based plastic, as it is chemically identical, but lower greenhouse emissions.
Secondly, food safety means that the material is safe for direct contact with food. It cannot contain or transfer any chemical or organic contaminants. Each type of material has specific criteria and regulations that the packaging must fulfil.
In addition to regulation from EU (BfR) and USA (FDA), there might also be local requirements in place. Regardless of the material, all food packaging must meet relevant food safety standards.