Foodservice companies that adopt sustainable packaging stand to receive multiple benefits in return.
The global sustainable packaging market was valued at USD 274 billion in 2020 with projections that it will grow at a 6.2% CAGR through 2028.
This massive growth is largely driven by the foodservice industry which accounts for more than half of the sustainable packaging market followed by health care and personal care packaging.
Contributing factors for this growth include consumer demand and local governmental measures. As the foodservice industry trends towards the use of more sustainable packaging, expect to see continued growth in the number of sustainable straws, lids, cups and food trays manufactured.
What Makes Foodservice Packaging Sustainable?
Sustainable food packaging includes products that are made from natural materials which are able to be recycled, re-used, and are biodegradable or compostable.
There are many benefits of sustainable foodservice packaging covering not just the environment, but also product quality, brand elevation, cost effectiveness through product re-usage, and consumer preference. Let’s start our review of the top five benefits of sustainable foodservice packaging by taking a look at consumer preferences.
1. Consumers Prefer Sustainable Solutions
What Consumers Want
Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword – it is a way of life for many. Consumers are becoming more and more eco-conscious and brands that exhibit a response to environmental concerns are favored by them in the market. A 2020 global survey of consumers found that 77% favor businesses that are sustainable and environmentally responsible and 75% support recycling efforts.
With consumer demand and business interest in being known as an environmentally friendly brand, mixed with increasing local regulations, it is no wonder that foodservice brands are migrating towards more sustainable packaging for their products.
Consumers Are Willing to Pay More
And the trend is not new. Nearly a decade ago, consumers affirmed their preference for environmentally friendly brands in a 2014 Nielsen Global Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility which revealed that 55% are willing to pay more for products and services from businesses who are committed to “positive social and environmental impact” and two-thirds of consumers choose sustainable products over non-sustainable.
As consumers drive the need for sustainable options and governments respond in kind, manufacturers of packaging products and brands are increasingly adopting the trend.
2. Sustainable Foodservice Packaging are High Quality Products
Consumers are likely to know the difference between non-sustainable and sustainable packaging simply by looking at it or by how it feels. Generally replacing most plastics, sustainable packaging is made from natural materials, such as wood pulp, bagasse, cornstarch, or even seaweed, and has a more natural aesthetic pleasing to consumers.
Bagasse bags and totes, bagasse meat and produce trays, cornstarch containers, and molded fiber containers are some of the most common sustainable products available. They are all designed to be durable and reusable with bagasse totes intended for repeated use – up to hundreds of times! Learn more about the benefits of bagasse bags.
3. Benefits of Sustainable Foodservice Packaging on the Environment
Uses natural materials
Sustainable packaging uses natural materials that might otherwise go to waste. Great examples are bagasse made from the pulp waste from sugarcane processing, which would otherwise be burned, cornstarch packaging, which is a plastics alternative made using the fermented sugars from cornstarch, and molded fiber which is made from recycled paper and cardboard.
Eco-friendly manufacturing
Sustainable foodservice packaging also consists of eco-friendly manufacturing processes designed to minimize environmental impact. Therefore, they tend to avoid using hazardous chemicals during manufacturing and leave behind little to no waste. In the case of molded fiber, any remnants of the wood pulp left over from manufacturing are simply included in the next round of processing – nothing goes to waste!
Disposable, biodegradable, compostable
One of the greatest benefits of sustainable foodservice packaging is that the products are safely and easily disposed of. Since sustainable packaging is made from natural materials with no hazardous chemicals included, the end of life of the packaging is conducive to biodegrading or composting. For consumers that have at-home composting, sustainable packaging can generally be disposed of at home.
One exception is cornstarch containers which, while being sustainable due to its materials and manufacturing process, is not easily biodegradable but can be recycled instead.
Reduces waste
The compostability and biodegradability factor means that sustainable foodservice packaging results in less waste in our ever-increasing landfills.
Protects our oceans
The reduction in the use of single-use plastics in favor of sustainable packaging results in less waste accumulating in our oceans, keeping our water and sea life happier and healthier.
4. Reduce Costs
The benefits of sustainable foodservice packaging extends to operational costs. For retailers that offer bagasse totes, consumers are able to re-use their totes over and over reducing the need for the shop to offer a new paper or plastic bag with every purchase.
Some brands offer their customers reusable totes for free while others sell them at a very low cost (a savvy revenue generating idea!). For those brands that sell them, purchasing a reusable tote is an easy consideration by their customers. As a result, the reusable tote market is exploding, expected to grow to $17.66 billion by 2028.
5. Boost your brand
Recalling that 77% of consumers favor brands that are sustainable and environmentally responsible, adopting sustainable foodservice packaging shows your customers that you care. And not just about the environment, but that your brand cares about what is important to its customers.
The benefits of sustainable foodservice packaging for your brand include more favorable brand recognition by customers, greater likelihood that your customers will recommend you to others, and an improved customer experience with your brand.
Foodservice establishments, such as QSRs, that provide sustainable packaging along with disposal bins separating biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable items increases their brand favorability among its eco-conscious consumers, attracting more customers in the process.
Brand customization
Some sustainable packaging products, such as bagasse bags, are designed not just for reuse, but also brand exposure. The ability to customize bagasse totes with your brand’s color, logo and messaging means that your brand will have continued exposure as your customers use your bag over and over.
Contact Servous to Receive the Benefits of Sustainable Food Packaging for Your Foodservice Business
Our complete line of sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable food packaging products answers the need of retailers who are seeking to maintain an eco-friendly environment for their customers.
Let our sustainable food packaging specialists at Servous help you determine which of our many bagasse bags, disposable cups, disposable straws, and sustainable food container options are right for you. Contact us today to speak with one of our experts so we can tailor the right solutions for your business, to meet your sustainability goals and your budget.
