In less than a decade, there has been an exponential growth in the number of food outlets. More fast-food restaurants, cafes, mobile food trucks, and takeaway shops meant more packaging waste on the planet. Single-use packaging items, such as plastic bags or containers, cups, and straws, are the biggest culprits that add to the ecological footprint.
The growing awareness among consumers of the environmental impact of food packaging waste has forced food vendors to look for eco-friendly alternatives. However, the real challenge before food businesses is maintaining the packaging product quality while reducing the costs. Let us explore the eco-friendly takeaway packaging options that food businesses should adopt to serve food and beverages.
- Craft Paper Packaging
Craft paper packaging is an innovative porous paperboard produced by the chemical conversion of resinous pinewood and bamboo into wood pulp. Available in different styles such as clamshell and tray, the craft paper products are recyclable, compostable, biodegradable, highly elastic, and tear-resistant. It looks no different from traditional food packaging items and is an effective way of advertising to customers that the food outlet cares about the environment.
- Bagasse Packaging
Bagasse or recycled sugarcane containers are eco-friendly food packaging items. Bagasse is the pulpy fibrous residue that remains after the extraction of the juice from sugarcane. Restaurants can use it for creating trays, plates, burger boxes, clamshell, and soup bowls. Also, it is biodegradable, compostable, durable, and affordable. Unlike plastic packaging, bagasse packaging products are toxin-free, making them safer for consumer and environmental health.
- Palm Leaves Packaging
Most people love to eat while on their way to offices, in a fair, or just roaming around. That is why a significant proportion of food stalls and mobile food trucks are on the streets. Palm leaves packaging is a right fit for these vendors to serve food and beverages on the spot to their customers. These packaging products are made from dried palm leaves. The best part is that they are renewable, compostable, biodegradable, and free of toxins.
- PET Plastic Packaging
PET plastic is a polyester that could be the ultimate choice for packaging foods and beverages processed in any condition (hot or frozen). It is the most versatile and durable of all eco-friendly packaging alternatives mentioned above. Not only is it fully recyclable, but it keeps the food items fresh until served.
Earlier, people doubted if it is even possible to manufacture eco-friendly food packaging. But as you can see, these packaging options do not cause any pollution and reduce the overall carbon footprint. Eco-friendly takeaway packaging could be the potential solution to the alarming environmental situation created by single-use food packaging waste. Therefore, food outlets should not hesitate to replace the existing packaging products with this.
