It’s becoming increasingly important for businesses of all shapes and sizes, across all sectors and industries, to find ways in which they can reduce their carbon footprint and start operating more sustainably as time goes on.
Consumers are becoming more and more discerning about who they spend their money with and it’s fast becoming apparent that those brands keen to boost their green credentials will start winning more custom.
So, with that in mind, what can takeaway companies do to make their service offerings more eco-conscious without running the risk of greenwashing?
Perhaps the most obvious place to start is with your takeaway packaging. The very nature of this side of your food business is single-use and disposable, which means it’s vital to consider the impact that these products will have once they reach the end of their lifecycle.
By ensuring that your packaging materials are biodegradable, you can help reduce the impact they’ll have on the environment when they’re discarded after use.
Looking out for materials that are recyclable, compostable and biodegradable will make a huge difference to your overall carbon footprint – and leave a favourable impression in the minds of consumers, as well.
One key point to consider, however, is that the term ‘biodegradable’ is very broad and has come to be used to classify any kind of sustainable material that will break down naturally under any conditions, with no specified timeframe.
‘Compostable’, meanwhile, means that your packaging will safely biodegrade in a compost environment under certain conditions and within a certain period of time, so this may be the better option if you’re keen to ensure you’re reducing your environmental impact as much as you can and as quickly as you can.
Other quick eco-friendly wins for takeaways include switching out plastic knives and forks for wood (or not providing any at all), using e-receipts instead of paper, only having online menus and encouraging customers to recycle and reuse takeaway products through loyalty schemes or a rewards-based system.
Looking for wholesale biodegradable coffee cups at the moment? See what we’ve got in stock today.
