A Simpler Way to Start Eco-Friendly Food Delivery
Restaurants are investing more time and money in their delivery services after the incredible success of food delivery applications. The space requires brands to stand out from the competition with some creative ideas. And sustainability can be the answer as customers connect with the brands that contribute to the environment. Therefore, you should keep eco-friendly food delivery on your checklist, if you’re a restaurant owner.
Your focus should be on reducing the cost and environmental impact of food packaging materials. Here, you will find a complete guide to making the food deliveries eco-friendly with the right products for your restaurant.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying Eco-Friendly Food Containers
Numerous eco-friendly containers are available in the market with different properties and price tags. It can easily confuse restaurant buyers who leave the finer prints on the products unread. Here are the important things to keep in mind before buying an eco-friendly food container for your restaurant –
Insulation
Insulation should remain a priority as it impacts the food safety and taste. The food may remain in the container from a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the delivery service and distance. Therefore, it is extremely important to buy a container that keeps the food at its original temperature.
Spillage
Spillage is often a serious concern for restaurants especially in India because of gravy-based food items. You cannot risk the food spilling inside the delivery bag as it will not only increase the loss but also impact the reputation. Check for spillage based on the food items before buying any container with a promise of environmental protection.
Price
Environment protection comes at a cost that may increase the price of food items on your menu. Customers are willing to contribute but you cannot ask them to bear the entire cost. Therefore, you should limit your search to find products that suit your requirements within a reasonable price. Spend some time on research and put a column of price in the overall comparison table for your eco-friendly plates and containers.
Types of Sustainable Food Containers for Restaurants
Sustainability is a broad term even if we add filters of restaurants and food containers to it. You will find many sustainable products in the market with the following labels on them –
Recycled
Recycled products are newly manufactured items from a previously used product. These items help the environment by reducing plastic or other materials from the overall waste.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable products will naturally break down into smaller pieces because of the plant-based material and bioplastics. These products come with a different rate of disintegration. Check the label or packaging for more information about the certification and rate of disintegration from government authorities.
Compostable
When it comes to sustainable products, compostable products are the best. Remember the compost pit dug for your school’s science project in your backyard. The concept is the same for the compostable containers and plates in your restaurant. They help nature by breaking down in commercial or home compost to become nutrient-rich material. Some examples of compostable materials are bamboo, baggage or sugarcane or bagasse plates that are easily available for restaurants.
Reusable
You can provide some hard plastic containers, reusable bowls or coffee cups to the delivery packaging to reduce the environmental footprint. Some restaurants provide clay pots along with some seeds as a gesture to impress their customer base. These are some examples of adding reusable packing material to your eco-friendly food delivery initiative.
Hacks for Eco-Friendly Food Delivery
We haven’t mentioned the 3rd R for any sustainable mission – reduce. You can use it to help improve the eco-friendly nature of your food delivery while saving money. Here are some hacks that will help improve food delivery sustainably for your restaurant.
Reduce Excess Packaging
Many brands are ditching the container box as an initiative to reduce overall waste. While the container box is essential, you can always reduce some of the packaging material from it. Quality food containers don’t need the additional layers of insulation and safety. Similarly, reduce the size of overall packaging by eliminating these excess materials.
Remove Extra Items
Some food delivery applications ask the customers to opt out of cutlery. You can use the same method to reduce the waste and cost of packing. Avoid adding cutlery for the orders delivered to the customer’s home. Ask the customers if they want the additional straws and napkins before adding them to the food containers. Many eco-friendly plates end up in the dustbin because the customers use the dinnerware at home.
Cut Back on Marketing Materials
Restaurants often find themselves at the center of criticism after they add some unnecessary marketing material inside their eco-friendly containers. Flyers can help potential customers, not the ones who already know about your menu. If possible, only add a small thank you note with some suggestions from your menu to reduce the waste inside the container.
Conclusion
Eco-friendly food delivery is important to help the planet in the ongoing battle for the environment. Add the cause to the delight of delicious food delivered at the doorstep and you will find an increase in orders through online platforms. At Chuk, we aim to help restaurant owners in the initiative with our innovative and sustainable packaging solutions that include tableware and containers made of sugarcane-residue bagasse.
Chuk’s bagasse plates are a game-changer for sustainable food service. Made from natural, compostable bagasse fibers, these plates are compostable, non-toxic, and sturdy enough to handle heavy loads. Perfect for restaurants, cafes, and food courts, Chuk’s bagasse plates offer a stylish and eco-friendly alternative to traditional materials.