9 minute read
Sustainable solutions
Consumer perception, a far more competitive delivery and take-out market, together with the implications of waste packaging disposal taxes, are currently the forces at play when it comes to the increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
CONSUMER PERCEPTION
“A recent Futerra survey showed that 88% of consumers want brands to help them be more sustainable, and many utilise their purchasing power as a way to make their mark, so as well as the right thing to do, it’s also a shrewd business decision to make sustainable changes within our own business,” says Louise Palmer Masterton of the vegan restaurant brand, Stem & Glory.
“There are an estimated 32.5 million employees in the UK. Statista reports that the average adult will eat in a restaurant two to three times a month. If we generously assume that one of those visits is a visit to a restaurant at lunch time, that leaves another potential 8 billion other lunch opportunities. Statista also tells us that 39% of working people will buy lunch out of home twice a week; that is a whopping 1.3 billion lunches bought on the go in a year - or fi ve million every single day.
“The classic ‘meal deal’, for instance, has three or more items of single use packaging in just one lunch - that is potentially 15 million bits of single use packaging discarded in one single lunch time. Just in the UK.
“Unfortunately, compostable packaging is not the answer. Compostable containers are widely made from virgin materials, which increase the carbon footprint of the product, and do nothing to solve the issue of mass disposability.
“We need a signifi cant shift in mindset of both operators and customers to move away from accepting ‘mass disposability’ as the norm. Operators can make it easier for their customers to use reusable boxes and cups. Introduce discounts and incentives that off er fi nancial incentives to go reusable. Make your take-away menu ‘lunch box’ friendly, for example. Introduce your own box/cup swap schemes. With the right amount of energy and support we can make mass disposability an occasional luxury rather than a day to day staple.”
RECYCLABLE OR NOT?
Whether you can recycle takeaway pizza boxes is a staggeringly frequently asked question on search engines, note packaging company, Kite Packaging.
Typically, pizza boxes are made of corrugated card, one of the most widely recyclable materials there is, yet the presence of grease staining can cast doubt into consumer’s minds. The government advice is that food packaging, including pizza boxes, can be recycled after use provided that no free moving food waste remains on the packaging. Surface staining, however, is acceptable for local collection.
Kite say that their pizza boxes (main picture) are made from a sturdy corrugated kraft material designed to prevent grease and moisture from seeping through, hence keeping staining to the surface and aiding recyclability.
Indeed, Kite’s pizza boxes feature green credentials at the start, and end, of their life, they point out. The paper is FSC certifi ed which attests to its sustainable sourcing and after use, it is both recyclable and commercially compostable. This means that the material can naturally break down into harmless organic matter in a maximum of 90 days when in a compost environment. The resulting compounds can be used as fertiliser. As a method that actively benefi ts soil health, composting is often considered to be the gold standard of eco-friendly disposal.
“In short, pizza boxes are recyclable as long as they are free from 3D food and residue; so no pizza slices, cheese or toppings present. Generally, they would need to be scraped clean,” agrees Jonathan Edmunds, recyclability & sustainability manager at packaging company, DS Smith.
“Sauce and grease is less of an issue, as long as it isn’t heavily soaked. There’s no reference point for determining how much is too much, but I’d suggest that if the majority of the fi bre was soaked with grease, then it would be too much to recycle. Some companies are using pizza box liners, which helps protect the box (the liner wouldn’t be recyclable). “Our mills are able to remove grease and sauce in the pulper, and the concern of food contamination is more from a recycling perspective as any food present in bales of paper and card can attract pests, rodents and insects (all of which may end up in the bale and therefore the mill), as well as creating a smell and potentially contaminating other fi bre within the bale.”
PREMIUM SOLUTIONS
Disposables manufacturer and supplier, Herald, has launched a selection of premium, eco-friendly, kraft containers aimed at specialist food stores, restaurants and high-end takeaway outlets, and say that these rectangle, disposable, hot food containers are aimed at those who are keen to off er the highest quality packaging to complement their produce.
Sitting alongside Herald’s kraft salad bowls, which are available in a selection of sizes, including 500cc, 750cc and 1000cc, and come with PET lids, the new hot food containers have paper lids and are designed to enhance the product off ering, presenting the contents in the most optimum light – a not unimportant consideration when competition in the delivered take-out meal market is greater than ever before.
“Since the new wave of food delivery services, customers are experimenting with their food choices and more and more restaurants are off ering a take-out option so that their menus can be enjoyed at home,” confi rms managing director of Herald, Yogesh Patel.
“These establishments want to use packaging and disposables that refl ect and complement the quality of the food they are off ering to protect their brand and retain credibility. As a result, we have experienced a surge in demand for our kraft products, which signal quality and good user experience, while supporting green credentials and protecting any hot content.”
Also focusing on aesthetics, as well as functionality, in today’s more sustainable environment, Faerch UK Ltd have supported Chop’d - through Tri-star Packaging - with the launch of their popular salad bowl in a fully circular packaging solution, having
THAT IMPORTANT JOURNEY
There being no sign that the swing to home deliveries is faltering now that restaurants are open again, the hospitality business has been booming again. Diners seem to be enjoying the best of both worlds, eating out and eating in, and quality is key for the home delivery market, and above all, products need to get to the customers in tip top and appealing condition.
To help out with that all important journey from restaurant to home, FEM (Foodservice Equipment Marketing) has launched what it claims is a new, and competitively priced (prices start at £40.20 plus VAT for the small pizza delivery bag), Pujadas economy delivery bags, which have been designed to get cooked meals from the chef to the doorstep in premium condition. The range features pizza bags and general catering bags to suit all kinds of outlets specialising in home deliveries.
All versions are made from a thick, sturdy and easy to clean fabric so they remain looking smart throughout their service life, and with good thermal insulation they maintain the temperature of pizza or other food items maintain the temperature of pizza or other food items during delivery and protect them from damage. during delivery and protect them from damage. Reinforced handles for ease of Reinforced handles for ease of transport and a hanging strap transport and a hanging strap ensure the product is kept fl at, ensure the product is kept fl at, avoiding spillage or crushing. There is also a transparent pocket on the closing fl ap for identifi cation labels and codes. of food delivery services, customers are experimenting with their food choices and more and more restaurants are off ering a take-out option so that their menus can be enjoyed at home,” confi rms managing director of Herald, Yogesh Patel. want to use packaging and disposables that refl ect and
gone into their London stores as of March 2022 (the bowls and lids, available in APET Evolve by Faerch, feature packaging made from postconsumer recycled content that can be recycled back into food packaging – again and again).
The Evolve by Faerch concept has also been embraced by consumers, they report, because it illustrates circularity, and with its unique look, communicates directly to consumers that these are products made from recycled content. The design also serves as an additional reminder to make sure that used trays are sorted correctly, further promoting circularity. With the bowls varying in colour, this reflects the recycled material they are made from, and effectively communicates the sustainable nature, claim the company.
“Evolve by Faerch is designed to close the loop on food packaging and therefore plays a key role in the industry’s transition towards a true circular economy. Evolve by Faerch APET material is made from recycled household post-consumer material which, after use, can be recycled into new mono- material food packaging without any loss of quality,” comments David Lucas, sales director of foodservice, UK and Ireland at Faerch UK Ltd.
Eddie Holmes, managing director of Chop’d adds: “We are proud to partner with Faerch and be the first foodservice in the UK to adopt this product. Using a bowl that is made from recycled PET and is fully recyclable aligns with our values for a greener future. Chop’d has had sustainability in its DNA since day one, and we strive to offer the best solution for the environment. By using Evolve by Faerch packaging, we are achieving a true circularity, while cutting manufacturing carbon emissions.”
Today, most of the recycled PET on the market is derived from transparent bottles. However, with more and more companies sourcing recycled PET, the demand for recycled bottle content has increased significantly. Claiming to be the world’s first integrated recycler of PET food packaging, Faerch says that it is offering tray to tray recycling on an industrial scale, the company’s recycling facility in the Netherlands is capable of taking in used post-consumer trays from collectors, sorters and recycling them back into food grade mono-material, repeatedly.
NOAM
Produced in Bavaria, Berlin, Noam has created a beautifully light and refreshing lager characterised by the fl oral and savoury fl avours of the ‘smargd’ hop.
It uses the fi nest ingredients, sourced locally from the valleys of Hallertau.
This is perfect for all beer lovers and enthusiasts.
