3 eco-friendly packaging choices for foodservice operators

Convenience and caring for the environment don’t have to be at odds in the hospitality industry.

When providing to-go orders, one of the biggest challenges you will encounter is choosing the specific packaging your business offers to customers. It has to meet your budget needs and, increasingly, laws banning foodservice operators from using materials that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), plastics and more.

Plastic containers, styrofoam boxes, and disposable utensils end up in landfills, oceans, and streets, harming wildlife and polluting the environment. And many consumers are more aware of the impact of their choices and are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint.

So, what options are available to foodservice operators when it comes to sustainable packaging?

1. Paper and cardboard: These are widely available, affordable and recyclable materials that can be used to make boxes, bags, wraps, and trays. Paper and cardboard can also be coated with plant-based waxes or resins to make them water-resistant and grease-proof.
   
   Spotlight: Hubert’s Biopak® Cartons Paperboard food cartons like Hubert’s are eco-friendly and compostable and made from rapidly renewable, responsibly sourced resources like plant fiber, bioplastic and FSC™ certified paperboard.
   
   Ask an Entegra representative about programs to buy products at our discounted pricing.
   
   
   
    
2. Mineral-Filled Polypropylene (MFPP): MFPP containers are made with an average of 50% less plastic than standard polypropylene containers, reducing plastic usage. These containers give foodservice operators an option to use more eco-friendly packaging for their take-out business.
   
   Spotlight: Pactiv Evergreen EarthChoice The EarthChoice product line offers a wide range of materials and container shapes and sizes, including MFPP containers, aluminum and molded fiber.
   
   
   
    
3. Reusable containers for foodservice takeout: Instead of single-use packaging, you can opt for reusable food containers in your business. This type of packaging reduces waste, avoids landfills and lowers your carbon footprint.
   
   ​Spotlight: Ozzi Reduce your dependence on disposable packaging by replacing it with 100% reusable containers. Ozzi’s O2GO reusable containers eliminate the cost and volume of paper and foam products, reducing fossil-fuel usage and your carbon footprint.
   
   
    

As the largest food Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) in the world, Entegra can help you select suppliers that fit your bottom line and help you set and meet sustainability goals for your business.

Contact an Entegra representative to get started on buying from our contracted green suppliers.