Sustainable packaging in the catering industry is definitely possible. Already today, many gastro businesses are looking for environmentally friendly solutions. Environmentally friendly packaging for burgers and other food should have the same external dimensions as conventional packaging. Simply choosing smaller boxes to save on materials is usually not an option, as adapting the food offered to the outer dimensions would be far too costly.
Fortunately, there are some sustainable materials that consume few resources while not being too costly to produce. Bagasse, cardboard and paperboard are already popular materials, though restaurateurs should look for relevant eco-labels, especially with the latter. Some businesses are already using recycled materials for takeaway bags to reduce their environmental footprint.
What are the benefits of sustainable burger packaging?
A major advantage of ecological burger packaging is to reduce the CO2 footprint of fast food deliveries. Among other things, processing plays a major role here, as each production step involves higher energy consumption and CO2 emissions. As an upcycled product, bagasse, for example, can score particularly well here: The sugar cane fiber is a byproduct of sugar production and does not take up any cultivation area itself.
By choosing sustainable materials, restaurateurs also help reduce the need for raw materials and the amount of waste their operations generate. In addition, sustainable burger packaging improves food quality and the taste experience for your clientele. That's because by absorbing moisture and fat, burger boxes keep their contents fresh and crisp.
Last but not least, ecologically produced food packaging made from bagasse & co. makes it clear that your business cares about the environment. This is already an enormous image factor, and one that will continue to gain in importance in the future. Consumers are increasingly measuring their consumption decisions against environmental compatibility. In short, those who opt for sustainable packaging solutions are perceived much more positively than their competitors.
How can menu boxes and burger packaging be disposed of properly?
The simple and above all environmentally friendly disposal of packaging is quickly disregarded as part of the product life cycle. To properly dispose of menu boxes and burger packaging, they should generally go into the paper trash or the appropriate recycling bins. Some materials can even be disposed of in the home compost pile. To give your customers this option, look for the OK Compost HOME seal on various BioPak products, for example.
For the composting or recycling process, it is also important to remove food residues as thoroughly as possible. Depending on the material chosen, site differences may also play a role: Coated cardboard, bagasse and other packaging materials can only be composted industrially under certain conditions. Therefore, check with your local waste disposal company to find out whether you are allowed to dispose of a particular material via organic waste. You should also communicate this information to your customers so that delivery and takeaway packaging also ends up in the correct waste garbage can at home.
