Eco-consciousness is becoming increasingly important within the framework of social responsibility. This is true, particularly in businesses, such as restaurants, that have to deal with massive packaging materials.
Packaging is one of the most significant areas in any restaurant where effort can be made towards being more environmentally conscious. The best way to do this is with your choice of materials. Biodegradable and sustainable options are in high demand for eco-friendly packaging in many restaurants. They not only contribute to saving the environment but are also highly functional and attractive.
If you would like your restaurant to help the environment while also making life easier on your customers, consider swapping out some traditional packaging methods for these eco-friendly ideas:
1 Wooden Utensils
When packing for take-out orders, wooden utensils are inherently environmentally friendly. They are made of organic materials, require less energy to manufacture than their plastic counterparts, and can be disposed of with standard composting techniques. These utensils are available in a variety of styles for all sorts of eating situations, so it is quite easy to customize everything from your cutlery set to your chopsticks.
2 Reusable Bags
Reusable bags are useful for more than just grocery shopping. They’re also great for carrying around your restaurant’s take-out orders. While reusable bags have been shown to reduce waste from plastic shopping bags worldwide, there’s another benefit that makes them a great option in the restaurant industry: people love them! They’ll be happy to put their food into a bag that signifies you care about the environment and help eliminate waste at the same time.
3 Take-Out Boxes
Customers will love to take home a plantable take-out box from your restaurant. This is another eco-friendly choice that also appeals directly to your customers. The boxes are made from recycled paper and can be planted directly into the ground after use because they have seeds incorporated in the packaging. There’s even an option for customized seed selection according to the type of food ordered.
4 Mushroom Packaging
Your restaurant’s take-out orders are proof of your excellent food. These days, however, more people are aware of the environmental impact that traditional plastic foam containers have on landfills. They’re also quite unappealing to look at. This is not the case with mushroom packaging! Mushroom packaging is biodegradable and compostable. The boxes also look pleasant enough to be used as part of dine-in meal containers if need be.
5 Paper Cups and Straws
Lastly, consider your disposable drink cups and straws. These are both items that contribute significantly to waste numbers in landfills, but they are also some of the easiest things to switch out for more eco-friendly options. Paper cups and straws are available in various colors that work perfectly with many styles of dining experiences.
Bonus Tips
Eliminated Unnecessary Packaging
Eliminating unnecessary packaging for take-out orders can have a huge impact on waste reduction efforts. Before packing food and beverages, go through customers’ orders to see what unnecessary packaging can be removed. This includes extra plastic utensils, condiments, napkins, and anything else customers may not need when taking home their order.
Share Your Eco-friendly Efforts with Your Customers
Communicate to your customers that you are doing everything you can to create a more environmentally friendly business. Put up signage, utilize hashtags on social media, and use emojis to add a personal touch, do whatever else you can think of to get this message out there. By doing so, you can inspire more of your customers to take part and make choices that are better for the environment.
Conclusion
Taking steps to make your restaurant more eco-friendly is a great way to save money and do your part in helping the environment. If you follow these five simple ideas, you can reduce waste, build a positive reputation, and do your part to protect the planet. Additionally, eliminating unnecessary packaging goes even further in reducing how much waste your business produces daily. Last but not least, by sharing with your customers that you are making every effort to create an environmentally-friendly business, they will be inspired to change their own habits in order to help out.