The foodservice packaging market was valued at USD 114.28 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 148.25 billion by 2027.
The recent growth in demand for takeout, food delivery and grab-and-go grocery store meals has resulted in the increasing need for more foodservice packaging, leading to the industry’s growth.
But it’s not just a pure numbers game. Bans on plastic in some states are feeding fantastic innovations in foodservice packaging that also meet the needs for food safety, and, increasingly, packaging sustainability, recyclability, and compostability.
For restaurants and other providers foodservice packaging cost is a primary concern. While the increase in food demand is welcome, sometimes the foodservice packaging cost associated with the growth is not. In this article we will share strategies on how restaurants, QSRs, and grocery stores can save on those costs.
General strategies on how to save on foodservice packaging costs
Buy in bulk
Ordering in bulk is one of the best ways to save on foodservice packaging costs. To determine which packaging will provide the greatest cost savings for you when purchased in bulk, compare volume pricing for each item you need and calculate how much you can save if increasing the size of your order. Start with your most used packaging items and then consider the most expensive ones that can achieve savings when bought in bulk. This is a surefire way to save on foodservice packaging costs.
Choose packaging that has multiple use cases
Stocking foodservice packaging that can be used in multiple ways is a great strategy for additional buying in bulk and saving money.
Some foodservice packaging materials are able to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, enabling retailers and providers to minimize the need for a variety of packaging types.
Delis and grab-and-go establishments take advantage of flex-use containers that are able to maintain the temperature of food for longer while it is transported. These containers can be used for salads or for hot prepared dishes.
Combine foods into one container
Whenever possible, you can reduce the foodservice packaging cost for to-go orders by combining foods into one container rather than segregating into multiple containers.
Especially useful for QSRs, using containers and trays that have compartments helps keep the different parts of a meal conveniently separated.
Don’t use packaging larger than you require
One of the easiest ways to save on your foodservice packaging cost is to only buy the packaging sizes that fit your food. Use smaller containers for smaller deli items, for example.
Bags are another area where there are many different size options depending on the use case. Bakeries can choose from many sizes of cookie, pastry, and bread bags. By ordering bags that are the size needed and not larger than necessary, your baked goods will be packaged beautifully and not break the bank.
Same goes for takeout orders. Have on hand to-go bags with sizes that fit the needs of your typical order.
Don’t automatically offer to-go boxes
It’s a habit for restaurant servers to ask a diner if they would like a to-go box for whatever might remain of their meal. Consider, instead, training your team to evaluate whether there is enough food remaining on the plate to make it worthwhile for both the diner and your restaurant to offer a doggy bag.
With an estimated 900 million tons of food waste thrown out by Americans each year, those remaining last bites can either be tossed in the restaurant’s disposal at no cost, or at the diner’s home – after you send them on their way with their leftovers in a container you have paid for.
For leftovers that are packaged up for takeaway, another way to save on your foodservice packaging cost is by foregoing the bag and just handing them the container.
How to save on specific foodservice packaging costs
Paper cups
Cups are one of the most disposed of single-use packaging products. The move from plastic to other single-use, disposable cups has made paper cups an industry winner and not just for their environmental friendliness, but for their cost savings as well.
Made from renewable resources, paper cups can come with comfort sleeves making them a great choice for hot or cold beverages. Stylewise, paper cups are attractive and meet the demand for single-use sustainability and eco-friendliness.
Use molded fiber for shipping
If you ship delicate or breakable foodservice products, such as bottles of wine, jam, or marinades, consider using molded fiber to ensure that your items remain intact throughout transit. Less breakages in transit means fewer replacement products shipped and happier customers!
The benefits of molded fiber for shipping are many:
- Molded fiber is sustainable and eco-friendly, made from the waste of paper manufacturing
- Molded fiber can be formed into any shape to accommodate different product shapes and sizes
- Molded fiber acts as a cushion in transit protecting delicate and breakable items
- Molded fiber is recyclable, compostable and biodegradable, making it easy to dispose of
Molded fiber is not just for shipping. Molded fiber also has properties that allow it to hold in steam for hot foods and prevent moisture from escaping, thus preventing messy leaks. Molded fiber containers are also microwave safe, perfect for reheating those leftovers.
Choose reusable shopping bags
Single-use shopping bags have been the norm for a long time. To save costs, some retailers are foregoing offering bags altogether, requiring their shoppers to bring their own from home. Other retailers, who want to provide a more pleasant shopping experience for their customers while also considering the environment, are shifting towards reusable bags.
Retailers who provide reusable bags can actually reduce their costs compared to those supplying single-use bags. They achieve this in two ways:
1 – Shoppers bring their bags back to reuse on future shopping trips
2 – Retailers can charge for attractive reusable bags, alleviating the cost of offering them altogether
The benefits of reusable bags run the gamut from protecting the environment from unnecessary plastic disposal to providing extra brand recognition for the retailers who use them. Shoppers have a tendency to carry reusable shopping bags into other stores, further exposing the retailer’s brand and logo.
Not only can a retailer reduce their overall bag expenses, but reusable bags achieve the added benefit of free advertising!
Choose sustainable foodservice packaging
Sustainable foodservice packaging is made from renewable materials. Renewable materials are plant-based and typically the byproduct of a primary manufacturing process. Bagasse foodservice packaging materials are made from the leftover fibers from sugarcane processing and cornstarch packaging materials, which are very “plastic like,” are actually made from – you guessed it – cornstarch.
Since renewable materials use the leftovers from other manufacturing processes, the materials themselves are less expensive than those that require non-plant based manufacturing. Cost savings also come into play since the primary manufacturer of sugarcane, for example, can take advantage of a bagasse manufacturer off-loading the sugarcane remains for them. The entire end-to-end supply chain, including the end-consumer, benefits from the use of sustainable foodservice packaging.
Ask Servous How You Can Save on Your Food Packaging Costs
At Servous, we are specialists in helping our customers choose the right foodservice packaging that helps them not only save on packaging costs, but also provides the best options to meet their specific needs.
Our wide array of foodservice packaging options covers use cases for grocery stores, QSRs, delis, grab-and-go, takeout, and even catering.
Let our specialists at Servous walk you through our different offerings as well as tell you about our many customizing options. We can help you find just the right solutions for your store or restaurant to match your budget.
Contact us today to speak with our sustainable packaging experts.
