Provision of food and beverage for large audiences and the general public is likely to be in take-away disposable containers. The most sustainable option is to use washable and re-usable cups, crockery and cutlery.
- Use re-usable and washable service ware where possible.
- If re-usable/washable is not possible, use disposable service ware which is compostable.
- Ensure you have a system in place to collect food scraps and compostable service ware.
Knowing in advance how your packaging will be disposed of will direct your choice of what to use. If you have nowhere to process compostable food scraps and packaging, sending it to landfill will create damaging methane emissions.
Food and beverage packaging is a difficult area to manage when multiple events are being produced located in various locations. Local waste treatment and processing options will vary from suburb to suburb, city to city, state to state.
Making a decision for food and beverage packaging requirements for traders, bars and caterers, requires an investigation into the waste processing facility choices. This will direct the optimal packaging choice and also direct on-site waste management systems.
Included in the decision on which way to go are:
- What facilities are available?
- Is it possible to separate out biodegradable waste (food and food soiled biodegradable packaging) without contamination (plastic, metal, glass) at the event?
Disposable Food Packaging includes:
- Plates, bowls, burger boxes
- Coffee cups
- Beverage cups
- Cutlery and stirrers
- Serviettes/Napkins
- Condiment tubs
Food and beverage packaging options if biodegradable waste can be suitably managed on-site and appropriately processed are:
- paper/cardboard plates/bowls/cups (no plastic or foil coating, ensure raw material is from sustainably grown forests)
- cardboard trays and boxes (low inked, no plastic or foil coating)
- paper serviettes (preferrably unbleached or low ink, ensure raw material is from sustainably grown forests)
- bamboo cultery
- potato starch cutlery
- wooden cutlery (ensure material is from sustainably grown forests)
- sugar cane fibre plates/bowls/cups
- palm leaf plates/bowls/trays
- banana leaves (fresh!)
- wooden stirrers (ensure material is from sustainably grown forests)
- biodegradable garbage bags – ensure they are ‘bio’ degradable and not ‘degradable plastic’ which distintegrate in sunlight.
Most food packaging suppliers will be able to source all of the items from sustainable sources.
Give preference to products which are made in your country from materials sourced in your country.
If you choose to use products made outside your country, use those which have the dual benefits of using a waste material (bagasse, potato starch or palm leaf), and whose production benefits local communities.
Don’t use:
- Single serve sachets of salt, pepper, sugar, sauces, butter, condiments, milk. Use bulk dispensers instead.
- Plastic straws
* A note on PLA
PLA is a plastic look-alike product, which is made from cornstarch. Cups are the most popular product made from PLA. If you decide to use this product, you must make sure that they are not accidentally mixed in with PET or other plastics and sent for recycling. Very few waste sorting facilities have the equipment needed to sort PLA from regular plastics. If yours does, then you have no problem. You must check with your composting facility if they will accept PLA. Do not send PLA to landfill or for incineration. Check if your PLA products are made from genetically modified corn.