The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to be more aware of how food is prepared and packaged. It has been particularly relevant for restaurants and cafes that have been unable to serve customers in the traditional way. Any food business should choose quality packaging that is also environmentally friendly.
A positive result has been an increased interest in environmentally friendly cafe supplies. These types of products are perfect to fight the threat of Coronavirus. They can be used once to limit risk and are made from recycled products, minimizing the effect on the environment. Once used they can be recycled and turned into new plates and bowls!
It doesn’t matter what you are looking for, you can find an eco-friendly solution. This includes dinnerware, clamshell containers, cups with lids, meal boxes, and even bio-degradable bags.
Of course, not all eco-friendly food packaging solutions are the same. To ensure you have one of the best ones you should consider the following criteria.
- Life Cycle
- Energy consumed producing it
- Recycling energy required
- Transportation costs for product and materials before and after creation
Choosing The Right Eco-Friendly Food Packaging Solution
There are several different materials that are worth considering. Your decision will be partly influenced by what product you are intending to serve in it. You should also consider the environmental impact.
Glass
Glass is simply superheated sand. It is completely natural and can be made into a variety of shapes and sizes. But, best of all is the fact that it can be melted down and remade as many times as you want. There is no limit to how many times it can be recycled.
Unfortunately, it is easily broken and not a great choice for stacking products. Additionally, if it is broken the tiny shards can contaminate the food causing a variety of extra issues.
Cardboard
Thanks to Amazon this is one of the most used package solutions in the world. Cardboard is recyclable although there are elements that can’t be recycled.
It is very versatile and can be used for carrying a huge array of products. It’s also good at being stacked. However, if you opt for cardboard packaging it is important to use products that have been made sustainably. This ensures it has minimal impact on the environment.
Polystyrene
You may be surprised to discover that polystyrene is recyclable. It can be used over and over again with very little energy used in the production process. However, the issue with polystyrene is that smells and certain substances stick to it. For example, fish guts cannot be removed, making it impossible to recycle the polystyrene container. You should also note that it is strong for transport purposes but takes the same amount of space even when empty.
The bottom line is that all these products are environmentally friendly to varying degrees. Your choice of food packaging will depend on what you are using it for and what is most practical, the cost may also be a factor. The fact that it is eco-friendly is a welcome bonus.
