The importance of eco friendly packaging in food or catering industry

We are all aware of the significance of minimizing environmental effects. Several companies are increasingly experimenting with innovative methods to develop and produce their goods. This is basically an effort to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact while also saving money. Additionally, “cradle-to-cradle”—the idea of bearing responsibility for a product from source to final disposal—is growing more popular.

Table of Contents

Main cause behind this environmental pollution caused by the food industry

Why is it important to be sustainable?

What is the significance of using eco-friendly packaging for food?

Various kinds of eco friendly food packaging

What to consider when choosing an eco-friendly packaging material?

IRCTC eCatering and eco friendly food packaging

Food Delivery in train by IRCTC eCatering

Main cause behind this environmental pollution caused by the food industry

A major contributor to an industry’s environmental effect is the use of packaging materials and accessories. Since one has to transport the products from their point of origin to the point of sale, businesses have to consider cradle-to-cradle packing. This sometimes necessitates large volumes of costly packaging materials. A new generation of eco-friendly packaging choices have evolved. This is a result of this shift away from harmful packaging products. And when it comes to eco-friendly packaging, there are virtually no limits to what you can do.

Because people in our society place such a high value on convenience when it comes to their foods, there is a pressing need to develop eco-friendly packaging concepts for food.

Why is it important to be sustainable?

It seems as though the media overuses the term “sustainability”. The term “sustainable” has a variety of meanings. To put it simply, living sustainably means to avoid doing anything that will have an adverse effect on the environment or future generations.

They emphasize these two ideas:

• Depend on resources from our surroundings to exist and thrive.

• Live in harmony with our surroundings.

What is the significance of using eco-friendly packaging for food?

• Plastics raise a number of environmental and public health issues. These include the buildup of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment and in food. Also there is the issue of human exposure to toxins from food packaging.

• Additionally, various non-intentionally added substances are there in food packaging, including phthalates. They have harmful and hormone-disrupting effects on humans.

• Then again, there are certain materials which you can reprocess only a few times. Whereas biodegradable packaging is designed to decompose easily in a compost pile.

• Additionally, eco-friendly packaging is energy-efficient. Since the components are lighter, they put less load on your manufacturing process.

• This material may help reduce packing facility storage needs. Benefits like this reduce the need for additional storage space, which saves businesses money.

• Using eco-friendly packaging is a great way to show clients that you are serious about the environment and that your business is genuine.

• Food packaging contains chemicals that are inevitable. But attempts to prevent the transmission of these chemicals into food are essential to human health.

Various kinds of eco friendly food packaging

There are a variety of eco-friendly food packaging options available. Many of these options are made from renewable bioplastics and plant-based extracts such as wood or wheat. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular and innovative eco-friendly products available today.

Wheat straws

Straws may lead to ecological pollution, even if used in very small quantities. Now is a good time to consider it if you haven’t previously. When delivering juice, give your customers wheat straws. These products are non-toxic since they are recyclable and biodegradable. Thus, you can decrease everyday trash in the country.

Edible Cutlery

The use of biodegradable packaging, such as edible cutlery, is gaining traction as a hip trend. A tiny group of innovators in India produce sorghum-based edible cutlery. It is possible to eat or recycle these goods and preserve them without the use of preservatives for a long length of time.

Paper boxes

Because of the increase in demand for home delivery of meals, every restaurant must stock up on packaging materials to keep up with the order. It is possible to preserve food in robust paper boxes and bowls with covers for a lengthy period while still maintaining its freshness.

You can also use such containers and dishes to promote the restaurant’s name. Restaurants are using more custom-designed, eco-friendly packaging nowadays.

The use of corn-based products for utility purposes

You can make food storing boxes and carry bags out of biodegradable materials instead of single-use plastics. Products made from maize starch are attracting attention because of their eco-friendly packaging options, such as bags and pouches.

Paper Towels

Pre-packaged foods often contain napkins although they aren’t technically packaging materials. Hospitality industries widely utilize napkins. So you can try and use cotton napkins instead of tissue ones. You can clean and reuse cotton napkins, reducing the amount of landfill waste. You can also use any organic fabric, such as cotton or khadi, to make these gorgeous napkins.

What to consider when choosing an eco-friendly packaging material?

When selecting environmentally friendly packaging choices for a restaurant, there are some aspects that a restaurant owner should bear in mind.

Reusability

The greatest way to go green in a restaurant is to seek for reusable products. Increasingly, eateries around the country are delivering meals to customers in reusable containers instead of disposable ones.

Recyclability

This should be easy for businesses. The most-in-use plastics PVC and polypropylene. It is possible to preserve food for extended periods of time at a more comfortable temperature by using polypropylene containers. Customers must be able to immediately and readily view the recycling code or number printed on recyclable items.

Biodegradability

Many people just toss “biodegradable” packaging after reading labels, however this is the wrong approach to dispose of garbage in this case. After careful separation and storage in a suitable atmosphere, materials will decay naturally. To verify that your packing materials are compostable, you must do a thorough investigation of the components utilized.

IRCTC eCatering and eco-friendly food packaging

The IRCTC, the food caterer arm of Indian Railways, has taken a major step in its commitment to environmental preservation. They did this in honor of World Environment Day 2018. IRCTC began testing eco-friendly food packaging material on eight Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains departing from New Delhi. Instead of using plates made of polymer, passengers aboard these trains will get food in biodegradable and disposable plates. The ecological project of the railways is swapping these polymer cutlery with ones made from bagasse. Bagasse is a fibrous byproduct of sugar cane processing. They also use this to make cutlery as well as containers.

Additionally they take extra measures to maintain ecological sustainability, including the collection of discarded packaging for recycling.

IRCTC will implement the bagasse-based eco-friendly food containers as a workable substitute for the non-biodegradable packaging now in use under its management after the first trial runs.

Food Delivery in train by IRCTC eCatering

The Indian Railways are increasingly focusing on quality rather than quantity when it comes to meals. IRCTC has also started their eCatering services. This aims at providing hot, fresh and delicious restaurant food in train. The services are available across 450+ railway stations across the country from around 500+ restaurants. The food you order will be delivered to you directly at our seat.

You can get food delivery at various stations. Some of them are the Ahmedabad Railway station, Surat Railway Station, Itarsi Railway Station, New Delhi Railway station etc. You can book your orders by visiting the IRCTC eCatering website, download the ‘Food On Track’ app, or through customer care services by calling 1323.

Hopefully, IRCTC’s eCatering deliveries will include eco-friendly food packaging very soon!

Keep up with eco-friendly food packaging

Plastic food packaging clogs up our seas and causes harm to our endocrine systems. Also it has several other negative effects on the ecosystem and general health. But a good thing is that eco-friendly options are becoming more common.

It’s time for everyone to adjust to the ever-increasing demands of the earth. Even if it takes some time, switching to eco-friendly food packaging may have a significant positive impact on your company. You will lessen your brand’s environmental effect and save money in the process.

We must utilize more biodegradable and recyclable resources if we are to safeguard subsequent generations as well as our planet’s health.

Food with eco friendly packaging FAQs

What are sustainable containers?

The term “sustainable packaging” refers to the practice of finding, developing, and implementing packaging solutions with the least possible negative effect on the environment.

What is meant by eco friendly packaging?

Eco friendly packaging refers to packaging which is recyclable, reusable, and non-toxic. It also refers to materials derived from renewable resources like biomass or natural materials.

How to make eco-friendly packaging?

There are many materials which are deemed as eco-friendly and sustainable. Some of them are:

• Mushroom packaging

• Leaf plates

• Single strip cardboard packaging

• Eco-friendly and recycled plastic

• Carton water

• Protective material converted from waste

Is glass packaging eco friendly?

Glass is a sustainable, 100% recyclable material that helps mitigate climate change and save resources.

What is the most environmentally friendly packaging?

There are a number of eco friendly food packaging options available, including glass, stainless steel, rice husk, and gelatin films packed with cellulose.

What is sustainable furniture packaging?

PAcking furniture with packages that are more environmentally friendly are known as “sustainable furniture packaging.”

What are sustainable packaging consultants?

The job of sustainability consultants is to find places in a business where energy usage may be more efficiently managed. They’ll propose cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly technology.

IRCTC eCatering

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