Eco-friendly food packaging is an incredibly important modern creation. Restaurants are one of the worst culprits for waste of single-use items. By now, we all know that the environment is in trouble, and we all know that trash and non-degradable items end up in a landfill — so why would we willingly contribute to that issue when the solution is right there?
Why Sustainable Food Packaging Matters
Put simply, sustainable food packaging matters because we already do so much damage to the environment by simply doing our jobs each week. Did you know that each year, the US restaurant industry alone wastes roughly 11.4 million tons of food and packaging? While not all of that is from to-go orders, a staggering portion is — and there’s an easy fix.
With a combination of portion control and sustainable packaging, we can reduce our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and, ultimately, make the world a better place. The reality is that restaurants need to make a change if we want to continue creating beautiful food with delicious, locally-grown produce.
Benefits of Sustainable Packaging for Restaurants
Reducing Waste and Carbon Footprint
First things first, we need to talk about waste. Let’s imagine that you get an order for a burger, yeah? What all goes into that? You have:
- The burger
- Fries
- Sauces in plastic ramekins
- Plastic lids for the ramekins
- A paper, plastic, or styrofoam box
- Paper napkins
- Plastic cutlery (forks, spoons, etc.)
- A paper or plastic bag.
Out of all of that, only the food isn’t trash; the rest is going directly into the garbage bin when they’re done eating. When you take into account that you likely make dozens, if not hundreds, of these orders each day, it’s pretty easy to see the problem.
Enhancing Brand Reputation with Customers
And that brings us to our next point — customer satisfaction and brand recognition. While not every customer is going to care about whether or not you use sustainable food packaging, many will. By making a point of using eco-friendly food packaging, guests can see that you care about making a change when you can. And those who do care about eco-friendly food packaging will take note.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements and Certifications
While this will vary depending on where you live, many countries have begun to implement requirements for restaurants to use certain types of eco-friendly food packaging. One of the most common restrictions is on plastic straws; many states in the US now require restaurants to use biodegradable (often paper) straws in place of plastic.
Additionally, many areas now prevent restaurants from offering disposables of any kind (straws, napkins, ramekins, etc.) without being directly asked. While this can be annoying, it’s also a step in the right direction. With that said, be sure to get up to date on your own local regulations so you can play along properly.
Key Features of Sustainable Food Packaging
Biodegradable and Compostable Materials
One of the largest issues with disposables is that they prevent the decomposition of biodegradable materials (like food). Beyond that, they also stay around in the dump for a long time — that plastic ramekin you used earlier? Yeah, that takes roughly twenty years to decompose.
By using biodegradable and compostable materials, we cut out that issue and allow the waste that we create to degrade. While it doesn’t solve the issue of waste, it does alleviate some of the pressure of contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycled and Recyclable Packaging Options
Recycling is the name of the game. Because of that, it’s crucial to use recycled materials and packaging whenever possible. Often, this will result in items that are marked as “made with 30% recycled materials” — we want those. Anything that can reuse waste, rather than discard it, is good here.
Durable and Leak-Proof Eco-Friendly Containers
One of the larger issues with eco-friendly food packaging is that it can often be a bit flimsy. While this isn’t a rule, so to speak, it is common enough that it’s a good idea to do a bit of research on your food packaging. Find containers that are durable and, importantly, don’t leak. After all, we’re doing nothing if you have to remake the order and waste even more food and packaging.
Types of Eco-Friendly Food Packaging for Restaurants
There are quite a few types of eco-friendly food packaging out there, but not all of them are created equally. Let’s take a peek.
Compostable Takeout Containers
Compostable takeout containers often come in a few sizes and styles. Some use recycled cardboard, while others use paper paste to create containers that decompose quickly. Just be sure not to use waxed cardboard, as the wax coating makes it non-compostable.
Biodegradable Cutlery and Utensils
Cutlery is a major part of eating, so it’s important that we use biodegradable versions of to-go utensils. No more plastic forks and knives, let’s lean into finding environmentally friendly options.
Recyclable Beverage Cups and Lids
To-go cups and lids are another example of an easily solved problem when it comes to waste. Switch from plastic to-go cups to paper, replace your lids with paper lids, and you’re good to go!
Sustainable Food Wrapping Materials
From butcher paper to tin foil, there’s a lot of extra steps that we throw into to-go orders. If possible, consider removing butcher paper from the mix (it’s waxed, making it non-degradable), and stop using tin foil. Instead, opt for better recycled containers that allow you to fit all of your menu items!
Reusable Packaging Solutions
While not all sustainable food packaging is going to be reusable, some is. This is especially useful to remember for drink containers. From Hydroflasks and travel mugs to growlers, if guests have sustainable options of their own, it’s great to encourage that they use them.
Some restaurants offer a discount on drinks or growler fills for guests who bring a sustainable option, while others offer branded travel mugs and water bottles as a way to encourage guests to be more sustainable.
How to Choose the Right Sustainable Packaging for Your Restaurant
Assessing Your Restaurant’s Needs
Your restaurant is likely to have different needs from the others in your area. Depending on what you sell, how much to-go business you do, and the needs of your dine-in guests, chances are that you’ll have an entirely different approach to other businesses in the area.
Packaging for Takeout vs. Dine-In
Some restaurants opt to go all-in on to-go orders, packaging everything into boxes and deli containers. While this is great for efficiency, it can be terrible for sustainability — unless you use eco-friendly food packaging. If you do, it may be more efficient for you to use only to-go materials.
After all, if you don’t have plates and silverware to wash, you also don’t need to use up water and power to wash them. It’s a weird mix of sustainability vs. ease of use, but once you get the idea, it’s super simple to keep going.
Special Considerations for Delivery Services
Beyond your dine-in needs, takeout and delivery services will have other needs. You’ll need multiple bags for deliveries, as well as a wide selection of cups, bowls, boxes, cutlery, napkins, and ramekins to accommodate most orders — so ensure it’s all high-quality and as eco-friendly as possible.
Comparing Costs of Sustainable Packaging Options
While we want to make sure that we’re being sustainable for the planet, we also need to remain sustainable for the business. Because of this, it’s incredibly important that you do your research on the cost of sustainable food packaging. Some options will be far more expensive than others; unfortunately, those options are also generally the most reliable.
With that said, though, it’s important to keep costs in mind. If you need to sacrifice the quality of paper bowls in order to have good boxes, do it.
Sourcing Packaging from Reliable Vendors
At the end of the day, this is all just talk if you don’t have reliable vendors, that’s just the reality of our industry. Because of this, it’s incredibly important to establish a relationship with reliable vendors in your town. If you’re able to consistently get well-made, affordable, and sustainable food packaging, you’re already a step ahead of the rest.
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