Sustainable Switch Guide
Sloane Sarmanian
Switching to sustainable packaging demonstrates your brand values and improves your environmental footprint. Reusable packaging can help you stand out in industry that is full of single-use plastic.
We put together eight points that can support your switch to sustainable.
Packaging
- Remove paper menus in the order, and direct guests to order online. Consider a small business card with a QR code to your website.
- Email receipts instead of printing and stapling them on the delivery bag. Write the name or order number on bags for order tracking.
- Consider reusable deliverable bags for repeat or subscription guests.
Materials
- Switch to plant-based or recycled materials, minimizing single-use virgin plastic.
- Keep packaging minimal and avoid unnecessary material use.
- Compare materials based on their environmental impact in addition to their market cost.
Extras
- Don’t include straws, chopsticks, condiments, or other extras unless requested in special instructions or purchased from the menu.
- Change the “Opt-out” to an “Opt-in” button for cutlery kits.* This switch will avoid the waste associated with often unwanted, single-use plastic added to orders.
*Ensure your kitchen team looks for this. Usually, guests only need cutlery for dining outdoors or when on the go.
More on Sustainable Switches
Transitions to Earth talks about the importance of bringing sustainability into food delivery along with the improvements made in the industry over the last decade.
GreenBiz discusses meal kits and the trade-offs between reduced food waste vs increased plastic waste.
Packaging World created a list of six trends toward reusable packaging throughout the food supply chain.