Food Service Packaging – Myths and Benefits

The way that people consume their food is changing—and the foodservice industry is following suit.

Busy consumers are moving through their lives faster than ever, creating a need for packaging that’s practical for the on-the-go individual. Consumers are ordering food online in greater numbers than ever before, and services like Seamless, Grubhub, and DoorDash are cropping up to feed this demand for ready-made meals.

As more of the modern world comes to rely on plastic takeout containers and other single-use food packaging items, attention has started to shift to how to package food in the most environmentally conscious ways. A wide variety of information is shared on a daily basis concerning the realities of food packaging—but some of it is outdated, inaccurate, or both.

Debunking Foodservice Packaging Myths

Myth #1: Compostable foodservice packaging doesn’t really compost, and if it does, there’s nowhere to compost it

The facts: In reality, the compostable food packaging assembled from plant-based polymers and other materials does compost. However, it’s important to remember that many composting services operate via different principles from each other, so you should check the abilities of your community’s composter before selecting compostable packaging.

The foodservice and composting industries are working in tandem to expand the available infrastructure for composting food and beverage packaging.

Myth #2: Plastics are made from oil, a nonrenewable resource procured from halfway around the world

The facts: Consumers can rest easy on this front. The vast majority of plastics used for packaging in the United States are made using natural gas originating in North America.

Myth #3: Takeout containers and cups made from foam polystyrene (frequently, and incorrectly, referred to as “Styrofoam”) are frequently left as litter

The facts: According to the 2009 National Visible Litter Survey conducted by Keep America Beautiful, foam-based foodservice packaging wasn’t even among the top ten items littered on United States roadways.

Myth #4: Banning single-use items like foam cups and takeout containers helps reduce litter

The facts: Bans don’t reduce litter streams; they merely change their composition.

In 2008, San Francisco audited the types of trash found on the street before and after implementing a ban on foam polystyrene foodservice packaging. The city found approximately 30% fewer discarded foam cups, but it recorded a 30% increase in littered paper cups.

Myth #5: Foam cups and containers are impossible to recycle

The facts: Foam polystyrene cups and containers actually can be recycled—there are just limited locations at which to do so.

Communities, recycling facilities, and plastic end markets across the nation are working to expand opportunities to collect and process these items. After processing, they can be recycled into useful items like tape rolls, hangers, and even raw materials that can be used to make new foam containers and cups.

Foodservice Packaging Benefits

Foodservice packaging gives consumers the chance to reduce the amount of food they throw in the trash. The foodservice industry uses specialized packaging for a variety of purposes, including

• Takeout
• Leftovers
• Grocery delivery
• Ready-to-eat food

Ordering takeout or picking up ready-to-eat foods is next to impossible without proper packaging. Foodservice packaging is more than just a convenience—it’s a necessity. Good foodservice packaging is:

• Sanitary: Single-use foodservice packaging helps reduce the spread of infectious diseases. FDA research has found that because foodservice packaging is typically recycled or discarded after use, there’s less of a chance that any pathogens on the packaging will spread to the next user.
• Convenient: Good foodservice packaging allows consumers to eat anywhere and anytime. Caterers and restaurateurs use packaging best suited to keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Compact, lightweight packaging allows consumers to carry food and beverages without any fuss.
• Resource-efficient: Biodegradable food packaging reduces the amount of water and energy wasted during manufacturing and disposal processes. When recycled, the materials used in packaging can be turned into new products, reducing the amount of raw materials used.

Learn More About Plastic Ingenuity’s Food Packaging Services

If you would like to learn more about how using the right packaging can benefit your foodservice organization, visit our food packaging information page or contact us today.