Is your morning coffee hit served with a feeling of remorse because you forgot your reusable coffee cup…again? What about that niggling guilt you feel because you are eating lunch from a disposable plastic container, using disposable plastic utensils, carried in a disposable plastic bag?
There are a couple of ways you could potentially ‘dispose’ of that guilty feeling. You could bring your own lunch from home in a paper bag and remember your re-usable coffee cup every morning. For the days when your pre-caffeinated memory fails, you could drink and eat from disposable containers that are bio-degradable, carbon neutral, and plant-based.
For businesses that cater for their staff either on-site or at functions, eco-friendly options can make a huge difference to the amount of waste and landfill created by the company and its staff.
Choosing eco-friendly catering products is a win-win for your business. Not only are you helping to preserve precious natural resources and protect the environment, you are also clearly demonstrating that your organisation is committed to being environmentally responsible.
When you are sourcing eco-friendly disposable catering products, there are some things to specifically look for. Firstly, make sure that any wood or paper-based products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This is the industry benchmark for sustainably managed wood and wood products. This includes plates, cups, napkins and some cutlery.
Plastics such as cups, cutlery, containers and bags should be made from PLA, as this is biodegradable in the presence of water and heat. PLA is generally made with corn starch or sugar cane and is safe to use around food. Many of these products are compostable, which is ideal for proper decomposition and far better for the environment. Some degradable cutlery is made from a substance known as “Revode”, which is produced from a rapidly renewable starch sourced from non-GMO crops.
Ideally, cups and food containers should be usable for both hot and cold ingredients, as well as safe to use in the fridge, freezer and microwave oven.
Ensure any disposable products are either recyclable or compostable and be sure to discard them accordingly.
As the popularity of eco-conscious products soars, gifting a practical and reusable product can help with a company’s profile at the same time as reducing the amount of waste produced from disposable catering. Many reusable items are becoming go-to products for the eco-conscious, such as a reusable coffee cup or shopping bag.
Events such as conferences or trade fairs are an excellent opportunity to promote your business and its environmental stance. Providing branded travel mugs, water bottles, or cooler and tote bags is a means of advertising while endorsing an environmentally friendly approach to catering.
There are a huge number of products which can be branded with a logo, and many of these are made from environmentally friendly materials too. The sky is really the limit when it comes to what you can choose to offer. Get creative and support a step towards zero waste by providing reusable, eco-friendly options for staff and clients.
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