Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Food Packaging for Your Workplace
Why should you switch over to eco-friendly food packaging? If your place of business relies on disposable food packaging, regardless of the reasons (city mandates, staff and customer requests, budgetary requirements, brand), you’ll discover that there are many good reasons to switch over — whenever possible — to eco-conscious food packaging products.
Styrofoam is not biodegradable, so right off the bat, you’re doing the planet a favor anytime you can steer away from Styrofoam food packaging products. By using eco-friendly paper products, other plant-based food packaging, as well as bioplastics (often starch-based), recycled plastic products and recyclable polystyrene plastic food packaging, you will be increasing your sustainable food packaging use overall.
Different Types of Eco-Friendly Food Packaging
When it comes to sustainable eco-conscious food packaging, different types of packaging have their pros and cons. Presently, it’s almost impossible to make something that is 100% sustainable — but the options below offer businesspeople some good ways to stay ahead of the sustainability curve.
Bags for Food Containers
Eco-friendly food packaging containers and other products might need to be hauled around in a bag (especially if dealing with several small containers). Normal plastic bags, as most people already know, or not good for the environment. Paper bags and reusable cloth or plastic bags are better sustainable choices. Paper is a renewable resource, while reusable cloth or plastic bags will limit the waste that comes with one-use bags.
Mineral-Filled Polypropylene Packaging
Mineral-filled polypropylene food packaging is designed with as much as 40% natural mineral content. This high mineral content significantly reduces the amount of plastic needed, which boosts mineral-filled polypropylene materials’ level of sustainability. This material is also microwavable, which is an added bonus as far as its business utility is concerned.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Food Containers
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a popular plastic that is recyclable. Polyethylene terephthalate is also FDA approved as a safe material for storing food and beverages. PET can be recycled again and again, making it an extremely viable and affordable eco-friendly beverage and food packaging choice.
Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) Food Packaging
Food containers made out of polylactic acid (PLA) have the advantage of being made out of a completely renewable resource, which is typically lactic acid (hence the name) that comes from corn or sugarcane. This FDA-approved material is eco-friendly and often used for cups and food storage.
Reusable Polypropylene Food and Beverage Containers
If your staff, clients, customers or partnering businesses frequent your workplace or the services you offer, reusable polypropylene take-out cups and containers are a great way to cut down on waste. These products can be used in breakrooms, cafeterias, on-site eateries and more. Offering people who use reusable polypropylene containers a discount on the food and beverages they purchase is a great way to incentive the use of reusable eco-friendly food packaging materials as well.
Every business will have a different type of need as far as sustainable food packaging use, bulk order sizes and costs are concerned. If you do decide to go green and use more eco-conscious food packaging products, BuyDirect from Mission Linen Supply stocks a variety of products at different price points that are eco-friendly and sustainable.
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