The England single-use ban is here: what you need to know about alternatives to disposables.
With the looming legislation coming into effect in a few months, food & beverage businesses, especially catering companies, are now in an unique position to adapt to the growing sector of alternatives to single-use plastics; this could also means optimising operations, reducing costs, and reaching sustainability goals.
If you think bioplastics and other compostable products on the market are the perfect replacement of single-use plastics, think again. Whilst these are advertised as environmentally friendly, the reality is much more complicated. We have compiled some points for consideration that might persuade you to explore beyond compostable packaging:
There is a lack of infrastructure for compostable packaging to work
The UK's current waste management infrastructure cannot process the immense volume of compostable food and drink packaging used. Organisations investing time and money to move away from single-use plastics find the compostables being processed as general waste instead. For instance, in 2018 UK Parliament decided to switch from single-use plastic to compostable single-use cutlery, coffee cups and lids, and all food containers. It was reported all of the compostable packaging waste created in the first 7 months of implementation was sent to be incinerated, rather than into composting by the waste management company due to lack of composting facilities available in the area (Source).
Improper disposal causes cross contamination and further pollution
It is common for used compostable packaging to be thrown into the recycling bins. Furthermore, poor waste sorting systems mean that compostables often end up in wrong waste streams. When compostables end up in the recycling waste stream, they can contaminate full batches of recycling and condemn them to landfill, creating unexpected waste.
Compostable packaging comes with unexpected costs
Good compostable packaging is expensive, and it is even more expensive to install the additional waste stream in your company to properly dispose of used compostables. An interesting 2019 investigation by Footprint showed the complexity of compostable packaging due to the shortcomings of the waste supply chain. After investing >£70K a year to develop a bespoke waste stream for compostables, all waste from House of Parliament collected between 2018 and 2019 (estimated 3.25 tonnes compostable waste) were incinerated instead of composted due to lack of facilities. As compostable packaging becomes more popular, it is essential to evaluate the reality of compost capabilities, and whether the high investment needed to set up a compostable waste stream may reap the opposite environmental result.
Further restrictions are on the way
England might decide to follow the footsteps of the EU parliament to implement further restrictions on single-use waste, with Wales and Scotland already promised to align with such rules. This includes a ban already in place on single-use packaging for food and drink filled and consumed on the premises, with much steeper targets planned for 2040. By then, 80% of hot and cold beverages as well as 40% of takeaway meals will need to be sold in reusable packaging (Source). It will be wise for businesses to stay ahead of legislative changes and implement proper measures beyond the band-aid solution of adapting compostable packaging.
Reuse systems are better alternatives than compostable packaging
Compostable packaging simply does not solve the waste problem. To tackle the single-use waste problem, it is essential to avoid using single-use altogether and focus on solutions that provide a holistic approach with circular economy thinking at the core. Reuse is a great alternative where materials are used until the end of their lifecycle, avoiding emissions from downcycling processes.
Cauli's smart reuse solution is tailored to help the catering industry addresses issues of the current linear take-make-waste system, and help you implement a truly circular solution that works, looks good, and is incredibly easy to manage!
Truly sustainable solution - Cauli has been designed with circularity at its heart. Our newest Life Cycle Assessment estimates that CauliBoxes have the potential to reduce the CO2 footprint of compostable boxes by 98.7% with over 400 uses per each reusable container, on top of massively reducing the volume of landfill waste.
Be ahead of the changing regulatory requirements - It is easy with Cauli to ensure compliance. We provide you with all the necessary software, reusable containers and return kiosks so you can focus on what you do best.
Measure your impact and reach your net zero targets - Our smart tracking system offers tangible data on usage and environmental impact can be used towards your ESG reporting.
Cut costs - Cauli is comparable in cost with compostable alternatives. Better yet, the more you use it, the cheaper it gets! For example, using 100 compostable containers for your mains daily would cost you around £21, whilst a daily subscription to 100 CauliBoxes is only £9.50.* Consider also savings you can make through reusables as you send less waste to the waste management contractors.
Employee engagement - Our tools allow you to engage with your employees on a meaningful level and reward them for their sustainable behaviour with our fully managed CaulinCoins reward system.
As UK moves away from the traditional linear model of waste, we can take a significant step forward in addressing the environmental challenges of single-use packaging. Reuse systems offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods. By choosing to work with a company that has a proven track record of helping businesses transition towards more sustainable solutions like Cauli, you can be confident that your organization is making a positive step towards a more sustainable future.
If you are a food and beverage business looking for a hassle-free sustainable solution, get in touch with Cauli at hello@wearecauli.com to learn more!
*Average cost of compostable container taken from https://www.vegware.com/ assumed at 21p per large box.
Help employees engage with ESG by implementing technology.
Implementing tech that aids sustainable practice makes it simpler for employees to engage with green practices, says CauliBox’s Josephine Liang.
Cauli is UK’s pioneering tech-enabled reuse solution that eliminates single-use packaging waste in workplace and event dining.
With mounting pressure from the climate crisis and changing political climate, there is more need and urgency than ever for businesses to maximise sustainability efforts.
Consumers are more frequently considering environmental and ethical business practices when purchasing goods, with a 2021 study finding that 40% of UK adults choose brands that they know have sustainable practices when shopping, increasing profits and market share of sustainable companies.
With Bloomberg intelligence predicting Global ESG assets to exceed $53 trillion by 2025, businesses are motivated to prioritise green initiatives from a profitability perspective as well as for social responsibility purposes.
Employees too are increasingly seeking employers with a clear sustainable agenda. A 2020 study found that 65% of respondents were more likely to work for an organisation with strong environmental policies.
An environmental initiative is only as powerful as those carrying it, so it is vital employees are committed to and engaged with sustainable practices.
Implementing tech that aids sustainable practice can help make it as simple as possible for employees to engage with green practices. Digital technology and environmental sustainability may often be considered mutually exclusive, but they are often mutually reinforcing – it can be difficult for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint without technology.
For sustainable practices to be successful, managers and employees need knowledge and competence about sustainable practices, embedding sustainability into employees’ day to day.
Tips for engaging employees in sustainability through tech
1. Blockchain technologies
Consumers and investors are seeking transparency in products. Blockchain provides this transparency for clients and consumers through allowing tracking across the chain; guaranteeing product integrity between producers, retailers and consumers. Blockchains of course benefit investors and consumers, but also positively impact employees through making sustainability simple.
For example, American restaurant chain Sweetgreen uses blockchain to work with local farmers and artisans to champion health and sustainability. When employees can easily track and see products to ensure sustainable and ethical manufacture and transport; it becomes easier to ensure that sustainability is being upheld. The more straightforward sustainable practice is, the more employees will remain engaged.
2. Digitising your operations
Technology should be making sustainable practices as simple for employees as they are for consumers. When sustainable practices are as easy as their unsustainable counterparts; they will be their most effective.
Digitisation should help establish sustainability understanding and proficiency through making knowledge and tools easily accessible to everyone within an organisation. Developing the knowledge required to drive these challenges in your company's operational activities and your management teams will maximise engagement and efficiency of sustainable practice.
3. Data sharing
What we often refer to as Industry 4.0 comprises a range of technological advancements that can be used by manufacturing organisations. Asset data capturing allows product creators and users to view and understand the life cycle of goods. This not only promotes a sustainable reputation for a brand or company, but improves efficiency for employees. Tracking achievements and the impact of sustainable actions helps boost morale and a sense of pride in employees' sustainable efforts. Data sharing technology makes this simple to review and creates incentives. Tools such as Pawprint help employees track carbon outputs through data capture.
Teaching personnel to become ‘implicit sustainability managers’ will embed sustainability as a priority within your organisation and allocate responsibility for sustainable management.
4. Using tech to connect teams
The modern world of work is increasingly encouraging the use of softwares such as Teams, which enable easy interaction between employees. Establishing green groups on communication sites aids interdepartmental communication about sustainability practices and initiatives, and keeps employees regularly informed, reinforcing the message and making it a part of day-to-day conversations. NHS trusts are learning by example, with many, such as Barts, establishing dedicated green trusts.
5. Knowledge sharing and collaboration
Partnering with tech companies can help business leaders meet sustainability targets through support in reframing their thinking, and in the implementation of sustainable initiatives with measurable impacts. This collaboration and sharing of knowledge lets companies implement products or initiatives which then translate directly to their Corporate Social Responsibility Goals.
These partnerships can range from digital platforms to sustainable catering and reusables and will place sustainability at the heart of company and employee agenda. Cauliboxes, for example, can be used hundreds of times and vastly limit plastic waste.
Recycling should be last resort for managing packaging waste.
Josephine Liang, CEO of the reusable lunchbox scheme CauliBox, asserts that recycling won’t solve our sustainability problems.
Originally published on New Food Magazine on 18/8/2022
Recycling is often promoted as the easiest way to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle and reduce our carbon footprints. In 2021, 88 percent of people in Britain claimed to recycle regularly, which sounds great on paper, but it isn’t enough when only about 14 percent of all plastic packaging is recycled. Placing recycling at the centre of our sustainable infrastructure will not help in tackling climate change.
The various myths surrounding proper recycling as well as flaws within the recycling industry mean that recycling cannot be our first line of defence against the climate crisis.
Can the UK recycle effectively?
According to the recycling tracker report in 2021, 55 percent of British households put at least one item in the general waste that could have been recycled. This can be attributed to consumer carelessness, or confusion at the complexities of the recycling process, which can be hard to navigate. Different councils enforce different rules, and packaging can be unclear and vague in its instructions for disposal. Contamination is another major issue limiting the efficacy of recycling in helping to support a greener planet. Most UK households (85 percent) put at least one item in the recycling that is not accepted by their local council. This risks spoiling batches of recycling waste where food or low-grade plastic is present in recycled materials, leaving it unsuitable for reuse. Recycling might make us feel like we are doing our part, but putting unwashed food jars, oil-laden catering trays and unfinished food remnants into the recycling, means any potential benefits are being undone.
Issues within the recycling industry
Many plastic materials that we are told to recycle include toxic preservatives and absorb harmful chemicals, meaning often they cannot be recycled into food-grade packaging. The process itself is also not an economical one, with costs associated with recycling plastic growing in recent years, due to expenses of collection, transportation and reprocessing.Other attempts to reuse plastics include the chemical recycling process, which aims to convert plastics into fuels and chemical components. Unfortunately, this is also burdened with problems. This process, which attempts to divert plastic away from landfill through breaking it back down to its chemical components, creates hazardous pollutants that release into the environment. When considering all the limitations in the recycling process, it is clear we need to change our sustainability frameworks.
Similarly, compostable packaging also has limitations in its sustainable ambitions, largely due to issues within the current infrastructure that do not allow scaling of commercial composting. Most compostable packaging isn’t accepted into the food waste stream, and so ends up in landfill. Both caterers and offices need to design a specific waste stream to dispose of compostable packaging effectively; however this can be expensive. The cost and labour associated with the transportation of compostable waste is the reason why reusables are supported by companies like Veolia.
How can caterers be more sustainable?
Trying to limit your waste is a great foundation for sustainable living. Reducing the amount of single-use plastics used, swapping plastic straws for metal reusables and buying in bulk to limit the number of plastic containers are all ways to optimise sustainability.
The wide use of single-use plastics in on-site catering has a particularly big impact on the environment. Disposable packaging generates 11 billion pieces of waste annually, yet the catering industry continues to use it since there are limited alternatives. With all the failures of plastic packaging recycling and compostable packaging waste management, durable reusable packaging is the future of sustainability. Adopting reusables as standard practice will help limit disposable waste, and reuse solutions like CauliBox, which rewards sustainable behaviours, will also assist employees in reaching their green goals.Establishing a sustainable infrastructure that optimises simplicity for employees is key. Wasteful habits are easy to form, and so making sustainable habits simple and accessible is one of the most effective ways to encourage positive behaviour and drive change. Normalising these practices may also encourage employees to lead greener personal lives.
Although much of the confusion around recycling is out of our control, educating the workforce about common recycling myths, ensuring waste disposals are labelled clearly to make it as straightforward as possible, and adopting reusable packaging and reuse solutions over disposable packaging will reduce recycling mistakes and help to make your organisation more eco-friendly.