Healthcare Disruptors Target Foam and Plastic

With more customers choosing takeout dining options, the industry has seen an increase in the use of plastic food packaging which, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, constitutes 30 % of all waste.

Most of that packaging is not recycled--or recyclable--which means it goes to the landfill or is incinerated, creating harmful pollution.

“The use of plastic packaging in foodservice is a major challenge in our country. It is also an opportunity for hospitals,” says Lisa Roberson, RDN, National Director of Wellness and Sustainability for Morrison Healthcare. “At Morrison Healthcare, we work with our clients to put programs in place that make a difference for the facility’s finances and sustainability initiatives. There are already some amazing examples of hospitals removing plastic and foam packaging from foodservice.”

OhioHealth, a large not-for-profit health system based in Columbus, Ohio, is a disruptor in the industry when it comes to reducing environmentally harmful packaging. In 2021, the organization stopped using foam products in its foodservice packaging at Riverside Methodist Hospital and Grant Medical Center, removing nearly 2 million pieces of foam from the landfill since the program began. Simultaneously, OhioHealth launched a robust marketing initiative urging diners to “love food, not waste.”

“We need to look at less packaging,” says Mary Howard, Regional Vice President of Operations for OhioHealth. “Rethinking how we serve food is important. Designing packaging that is less impactful to the environment is where we need to look now and in the future.”

While other foodservice providers have relied more heavily on foam and disposable packaging, OhioHealth stayed committed to sustainability. As a result, more of the system’s facilities are expected to join the foam removal program.

At Atrium Health, a North Carolina-based health system that operates 40 hospitals, a single-use plastic elimination initiative started by identifying several areas to reduce packaging or switch to a more sustainable option.

First, the system removed single-use plastic water bottles from its cafeterias, lounges and catering. As an alternative to traditional plastic bottles in retail dining, Atrium’s cafes transitioned to Just Water which is served in fully recyclable Tetra Pak cartons. The installation of touchless water refill stations encourages the use of reusable cups and non-single-use straws.

The health system estimates its efforts will eliminate 1.9 million water bottles a year, translating to nearly 90 tons of plastic waste and more than 260 tons of carbon removed from the environment.

The journey toward a more sustainable future is not always easy. Still, Morrison Healthcare is committed to partnering with its clients to develop strategies and plans to push the industry in that direction.