In an age of economic uncertainties and desire to go greener, Quick Service Restaurants, retail facilities, and delis must look into more sustainable food containers. Fortunately, bagasse is an emerging eco-friendly solution that cuts packaging costs and complies with the FDA’s food safety standards.
At Servous, we are proud to be one of the leading wholesale vendors of bagasse food packaging products. Let’s take a closer look at a few key benefits of bagasse and how this sustainable packaging can improve your company’s brand image and bottom line.
What Is Bagasse?
Bagasse is a sustainable and more renewable alternative to plastic. As a byproduct of the manufacturing of sugar cane stalks, bagasse is the fiber that is left after sugar is produced. It’s stronger and more durable than Styrofoam, which makes it suitable for food packaging applications and more.
Bagasse Is Extremely Plentiful & Renewable
Bagasse itself can be eaten as a food rich in fiber as long as it’s separated from sugarcane stalk and chewed carefully. There’s over twice as much bagasse fibrous residue in the sugar cane crop compared with the product marketed as “cane sugar.”
Bagasse Can Be Used in Various Food Packaging Applications
Some of the various other applications of sugarcane bagasse are boxes, trays, bowls, plates, cups, and other food containers. These items can be safely stored in a freezer without degrading. At the same time, bagasse boasts excellent heat-resistant qualities, which makes it ideal for cooked food. Some research even suggests it’s microwave safe. Since the material isn’t adversely affected by temperature, it’s excellent for shipping and storage conditions.
Major Advantages of Bagasse Packaging
A growing number of foodservice restaurants are learning that sugarcane bagasse helps the environment and the company’s budget. This sugarcane byproduct has already gained attention and adoption among food distributors in London for its sustainable properties.
Here are 6 key benefits of using sugarcane bagasse food packaging products.
Bagasse Is Industrially Compostable
One of the most important environmental benefits of bagasse is that it’s compostable. That means after it’s used it can be put back into the environment to produce nutrient-rich soil that breaks down into eco-friendly fertilizer.
This process takes from 1-6 months and varies based on the compost method and the composting conditions. Since bagasse decomposes into biodegradable and compostable organic matter, your customers can use it in their garden instead of trashing it and sending it to a landfill.
The big problem with landfills is that they are full of toxic waste that can seep back into the ground and contaminate water systems. One of the goals of green businesses is making a contribution to landfill waste reduction.
Ultimately, the use of sugarcane stalks for bagasse packaging generates a sustainable alternative to a wide range of current packaging solutions.
A Biodegradable Solution That’s Safe for the Environment
Another remarkable benefit of bagasse is that it is biodegradable, which further contributes to landfill reduction. Compostability refers to the ability of a substance to act as a fertilizer, whereas biodegradation involves the decomposing process that breaks the substance down further as part of the natural cycle. The three main stages of this process are:
- Biodeterioration,
- Biofragmentation and
- Assimilation.
Economic Advantages of Sugarcane Bagasse
Not only does bagasse have clear environmental benefits, it also can help your bottom line as a business. There’s a growing consumer and supply chain demand for environmentally-friendly products and packaging.
Many consumers looking to go green want to patronize businesses that support green initiatives. Such a strategy can amplify the impact and image of your brand. Consumers are increasingly learning about recycling and other sustainable solutions related to packaging.
Since bagasse containers work well at protecting both cold and hot food, they provide diversity with meaningful cost benefits. An eco-friendly material that has multiple uses usually fits the concept of sustainability, especially if it reduces waste in the packaging process.
An economic benefit in the shipping phase is that bagasse can be used for lightweight packaging, which lowers shipping costs.
Sugarcane Bagasse Packaging Products Can Reduce Carbon Footprint
The ecological beauty of bagasse products is they reduce the carbon footprint that mass production has on the planet. Even though carbon and oxygen are necessary for life, carbon mixed with oxygen creates carbon dioxide (CO2).
Excessive CO2 in the atmosphere overheats the planet and puts a strain on natural processes. That’s why several nations have joined together pledging to reduce CO2 as much as possible in the next few decades. Bagasse is poised to play a significant role in the adoption of sustainable packaging across various industries.
Less Chance of Material Shortage
Another advantage to bagasse containers and other sugarcane products is that sugarcane grows quickly as reproduction cycles span less than a year. That means the crop is less susceptible to supply shortages, making it more reliable for long-term planning.
While plastic is cheap but directly affected by crude oil prices, sugarcane as a raw material is comparable in cost to produce and is usually always readily available.
Recyclable Qualities Improve Your Brand Image
Delivering a sustainable product in sustainable packaging is an ideal goal in the future of mass production. The more commercial physical items can be reused, repurposed, or recycled, the more they contribute to environmental protection.
Nature and recycling centers, not landfills, should be the destination of sustainable materials. Bagasse food packaging products are the perfect solution. The fact that bagasse can be recycled means if you use the material in your restaurant, it can improve your brand image.
Essentially, going greener will boost loyalty for your brand among partners and end-users who value the proactive practice as improving quality of life.
Contact Servous for Bagasse Food Packaging Products
At Servous, we offer an array of different types of biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable Bagasse food packaging products. Some of our most popular bagasse products are:
- Bagasse Chicken Roaster containers
- Bagasse Bowls
- Bagasse Plates
- Bagasse Meat Trays
- Bagasse Produce Trays
- Bagasse Take-out food containers
- Bagasse Paper Shopping Bags
Whether you’re looking to order bagasse food packaging products or to learn more about the amazing benefits of bagasse, the team at Servous can help. Contact us today.
