Despite being extremely convenient for consumers, food delivery services have raised concerns regarding greenwashing packaging and excessive waste.
Although the scope of e-commerce has expanded drastically, providing convenience to consumers and new restaurant opportunities, companies now face new waste challenges.
Martin Kersh, executive director of the Foodservice Packaging Association, said that while delivery platforms don't control the packaging used by restaurant and takeaway operators, they play an essential role in ensuring compliance with legislation and sustainability.
Meal delivery platforms need to do much more to ensure their members aren't exploited by packaging suppliers who claim their packaging has superior environmental credentials, even though they have no evidence of legitimacy.
Kersh gave insight into how eco-friendly packaging is often made up of symbols to give the illusion of being environmentally friendly. This is a breach of the Green Claims Code, and restaurants and delivery drivers should educate themselves on how to spot these symbols.
The ban on polystyrene and extruded polystyrene foam boxes caused a rise in 'heavy duty' and 'reusable' packaging. However, Kersh found that although products are reusable, they are often thrown away, making them just as wasteful.
Strategic switches have emerged within the food e-commerce industry as ways for restaurants and brands to address packaging waste.
One of these switches is supplying cutlery options for deliveries, letting customers choose whether they require cutlery or not.
There has also been a growing shift in online food delivery packaging, moving away from synthetic materials and towards natural options. Plant-based solutions offer a natural alternative that addresses manufacturers' and brands' environmental and health concerns.
Despite the growing interest in reusable packaging solutions for food service, several challenges remain regarding effective reuse systems.
Michael Hoffman, vice president of sustainability and communications for Fiber Foodservice EMEA-Asia-Oceania, added that they are not against reuse. It doesn't align with the demands of QSR food delivery. The logistical complexities and high costs pose significant challenges.
This has caused an increasing shift towards paper-based products, which have now been found to contain nasty chemicals that are bad for consumer health and the environment.
Traditional paper and cardboard takeaway boxes are commonly coated in petrochemical-based or fluorochemical materials to protect and preserve produce. These coatings do not fully biodegrade and disrupt the recycling process, making them unsuitable alternatives.
A possible eco-friendly alternative is reusable packaging, which only works if it is part of a controlled system. This comes at a considerable cost for restaurants and takeaway places, as packaging must be returned; otherwise, environmental benefits and overall costs will suffer.
Despite the large number of challenges, efforts to reduce packaging waste are growing, and various materials are regularly trialled through the supply chain.
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