Eco-friendly food packaging for delivery: tips and tricks

Growing ecological concerns

The food, beverage, and restaurant industry is a market very much driven by trends and consumer demand. As the number of people ordering food online is on the rise, so are concerns about sustainability and the impact of food delivery on the environment. 

Two out of three consumers care more about sustainable food packaging than 5 years ago. A whopping 66% of all consumers will pay more for products from brands committed to the environment, half of which are willing to pay a premium for food-sustainable packaging.

The inevitable truth is that with thousands of tonnes of plastic filling the world’s oceans, the need for eco-friendly, sustainable packaging – particularly in the food delivery market – is significant.

Restaurants prepared to go the extra mile will not only stand out from their competitors, but a whole new segment of customers is ready to rally behind those businesses that show they’re devoted to making a change. 

Small changes, significant impact

While it’s understandable that implementing a whole new range of packaging materials doesn’t happen overnight, there are a few quick wins every restaurant offering delivery or takeaway can put into practice in no time at all:

• Stop automatically adding handfuls of ketchup, soy sauce, or other packets of condiments to your takeout. It’s better to ask the customer whether they need or want spices and, if so, use them in bulk.

• Restaurants often include (plastic) utensils, straws, and napkins in their deliveries. Customers eating your meals at home don’t need all that extra stuff. Delivery platforms such as Deliveroo ask customers whether cutlery needs to be included. This is a great practice and may as well be extended to straws, napkins, and other bits and bobs.

• Remove any excess packaging or wrapping. Instead of putting your meal in a box, then wrapping it in foil to seal it, before finally putting it in a (plastic) bag, ask yourself if this is necessary to keep the meal ship-shape or if you might be going a bit overboard.

• Your food has been ordered online, which means your customers found your online menu – or at least we hope that’s how it happened! There’s no need to put a paper menu in your delivery meal. 

Taking the next step

 Of course, sustainable packaging doesn’t stop there. With the ever-increasing community of eco-warriors comes a range of innovations to reduce waste and create recyclable, reusable, biodegradable, and compostable packaging.

Your restaurant should consider replacing plastic, Styrofoam, and polystyrene packaging with eco-friendly alternatives.

Current options include plant-based plastics based on corn, bamboo, wheat, bagasse (a by-product of sugarcane processing), and wood pulp. These natural materials are abundant and renewable, producing high-quality plates, cups, bowls, containers, etc.

There’s even such a thing as paper made out of stone – calcium carbonate, more specifically, one of the earth’s most abundant resources. Stone paper can be used to craft paper bags, food cartons, and greaseproof paper wraps, just a few possibilities.

And why not take it to the next level with palm leaf packaging? The palm leaves can be molded into a shape you can use as a container for fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts.

A range of manufacturers

Look at some sustainable packaging already out there and see which products could work for your food items. If your restaurant is based in the US, you might want to check out Good Start Packaging to give an example. Europe-based businesses or restaurants in the Middle East can get inspired at EnviroWare, one of the many innovative food packaging manufacturers.

Click here to download a list of eco-friendly packaging companies in your region to start going green today!

We’ve given you a lot of food for thought on how to step up your game when it comes to using environmentally friendly, high-quality packaging for your food delivery operations.

Considering how to reduce waste and improve sustainability is a topic close to a significant part of your current and future clientele. It also provides an excellent opportunity to make your restaurant stand out and build a long-lasting relationship with consumers.