While consumers are often rebuked for making conscious choices while shopping for food, over 40% of all plastic manufactured globally is used by food stores and restaurants for takeout or delivery services, so the consumer is not even given the option to make a mindful choice and is compelled to purchase single-use containers, ultimately contributing to plastic waste.
Breaking this cycle is in the hands of the restaurants and food businesses and it's their corporate responsibility to ensure that they use sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions while providing their services.
Now coming to choosing eco-friendly solutions the questions we must be asking as a business should change.
Is the material recycled, reusable, or recyclable?
Whether or not it’s compostable or biodegradable?
Today, we’ll evaluate the packaging options available in the market and analyze their pros and cons to determine which one is the most eco-friendly solution.
Polyethylene Terephthalate is the most commonly used plastic in food and beverage packing today since it is lightweight, tamper-evident, and shatterproof. PET is infinitely recyclable and is in fact the most recycled plastic worldwide.
To recycle PET bottles, non-PET materials need to be removed, and the bottles are crushed, washed, and dried before being processed. A strand pelletizing system is recommended for recycling PET because it cools and solidifies the plastic, which is then pelletized into uniform, reusable pellets. This process allows PET bottles to be recycled repeatedly, promoting sustainability in packaging.
It also works as a barrier between CO2 and light hence repelling microorganisms and is so strong that it can even go through high-pressure processing (a form of pasteurization without the use of heat ). PET is widely regarded as a safe plastic since it does not contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that, in large amounts, may disrupt the endocrine system and pose health risks.
However the cons of using PET plastic are significant, it is one of the most commonly found in waste in the oceans and when not recycled properly it is found in landfills in the form of microplastics. It is also closely associated with petroleum since PET plastic is derived from it increasing its carbon footprint.
Hence we recommend the use of PET plastic only if it can be recycled properly since it is not a biodegradable option for packaging however it is still better than other forms of plastics such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), LDPE (low-density Polyethylene) etc since it is 100% recyclable.
High-Density Polyethylene is the most environmentally stable plastic since it releases no fumes in the atmosphere which makes it safe for food and beverage containers. It is a type 2 recycled plastic known for its high strength to density, and sturdy nature, making it exceptionally durable since it can withstand chemicals, pressure and moisture the best part is that it is made by recycling consumer products at the end of their lifecycle and it can be recycled over and over again and moulded into different shapes without compromising with its integrity. It does not contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), heavy metals and allergens making it an eco-friendly plastic.
HDPE reduced the need for the production of plastic in the first place hence reducing the demand for plastic, reducing energy consumption by 50% since it requires less energy than other plastics which leads to a reduction in emission of greenhouse gases by more than 30%.
Unlike other plastics that can break down into microplastics and contribute to environmental pollution, HDPE significantly lowers the risk of degradation and release into the environment. This quality is crucial for reducing plastic pollution and mitigating its harmful effects on wildlife and ecosystems.
Paper, plant-based materials such as bamboo, sugar cane, mushrooms, corn starch or wooden cutlery options are the most eco-friendly solutions. They're made of plastic-free, biodegradable and compostable material that breaks down by microorganisms in a matter of 2 to 6 weeks and goes back to the earth without causing any degradation. Other than these you’ll find ingeo bioplastic packaging which is a bio-based material made out of plants instead of oil and is compostable and biodegradable under the right conditions and is certified commercially compostable to AS4736 in Australia and New Zealand.
So when you use these options for takeaways and delivery or even serving at your restaurants and cafes you are contributing to the environment, reducing your carbon footprint, and having sustainable packaging can also heavily impact your brand image as it shows how conscious you are as a business.
Customers today worry about their health more than ever, they need non-toxic and allergen-free packaging options when they shop or dine out, however, biodegradable choices are not so common, and these options help you stand out as a business.
Finally reducing the dependency on single-use plastic packaging is one of the biggest challenges enterprises in the food sector need to address. Usually, consumers do not have a choice regarding the type of material used but businesses can play a major part by using recycled, reusable, recyclable, compostable or biodegradable packaging. PET and HDPE plastics provide recycled products that if disposed off effectively, minimize plastic waste. However, more long-term solutions can be found within compostable and biodegradable polymers derived from renewable resources.
As a business, switching to sustainable packaging may seem more expensive upfront, but it can yield long-term savings. Lowering the cost of waste disposal, following government policies on waste disposal and management, and targeting environmentally conscious customers to boost sales will do a lot in offsetting the initial cost. Governments also continue putting measures and policies in place to urge or compel providers to practice sustainability, businesses that embrace friendly packaging waste advance reduce costs that will be encountered in future.
