By: Katie Koenig
We all get takeout at some point in our lives, especially with the bustle of college life and late night deadlines. Whether it’s a muffin to-go covered in saran wrap, a cup of coffee in a waxed paper cup, or a meal boxed in plastic, takeout is a major generator of trash that goes straight to a landfill when we’re finished with it.
Fortunately, recent takeout container innovations are starting to allow for more options than single-use plastic packaging, especially in larger cities like Boston and New York. One such material, bamboo, is becoming common at chic coffee shops as material for utensils or straws. Similarly, cardboard containers are now commonly used for boxed salads. Another option starting up, even with the pandemic still on people’s minds, are reusable, returnable takeout containers.
Biodegradable and Reusable Alternatives
Instead of the water-intensive and chemically toxic process of plastic creation, bamboo is seen as a more eco-friendly alternative. Even compared to other wood products, it grows faster, takes less land to grow, and produces about a quarter more oxygen than the average tree1. It naturally has antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it a safer material than wood which can rot if left for a few days with food or liquid in the fridge. It is a durable material in and of itself, and, most importantly, is biodegradable. It can be used as a material not just for dining, but also for construction. Hemp is another easily grown crop that provides similar uses, with a particular efficacy for use as a biofuel2.
However, despite being comparatively better than plastic, the treatment process of such materials before they can be used is still extremely water intensive and produces dangerous toxic runoff as a result of being chemically treated. In addition, even when chemically treated to last longer, bamboo and hemp degrade faster than traditional building materials, and so they need to be replaced more frequently1. Overall, these materials provide a convenient, short-term solution for single-use plastics and wasteful construction, especially as a form of biofuel, but they can still produce dangerous waste with an overall negative impact on the environment5.
Another option to alleviate restaurant waste that is rising in popularity is reusable takeout containers. Multiple delivery and catering companies have emerged that specifically only use such containers for their deliveries, with the expectation that customers will return them after a set period of time3. One such company is DeliverZero, based in New York and Colorado. They provide plastic, reusable containers to restaurants for food delivery, and customers return their containers to the delivery courier the next time they order food from any restaurant serviced by DeliverZero. Customers are fined a surcharge if the container isn’t returned within three weeks, but otherwise there is no additional cost to using DeliverZero services compared to UberEats or another delivery service4. Similar Massachusetts-based companies are Recirclable and Usefull. Usefull particularly works with school campuses to provide reusable to-go containers for students at various food locations on campus, and reports a 99% return rate of their containers6. Emerson itself works with another such company, Ozzi, to provide us with O2Go containers in the dining hall that we return when finished.
Overall, especially with the rise in takeout and delivery after the pandemic, it’s vital to consider more ecologically friendly alternatives to single-use packaging for our food. Regardless of biodegradable or plastic materials, single-use items are problematic for our waste habits and carbon footprints. Whether it’s grabbing an O2Go container instead of a plastic cup to take out a snack or an extra meal, or taking advantage of local services that have a focus on reusability and sustainability, there are multiple ways to reduce waste in your day to day life. With the increasing focus on innovation and quotidian implementation of solutions, these options will only grow in the years to come.
Policies
In the political sphere, there are some regulations regarding single-use plastics. Although no federal laws currently exist, many cities and states have bans or taxes placed on plastic bags, specifically. Additionally, Massachusetts has recently turned a greater eye towards single-use packaging. Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order in September of this year banning the purchase of single-use plastic bottles under 21 fluid ounces by state agencies, except in extreme emergencies, the first state to implement such an order7. Ten states, including Massachusetts, also have “bottle bills,” laws that add a deposit on certain disposable bottles that is then repaid when the customer returns the container. There is currently a proposed bill in the Massachusetts legislature to update the bottle bill.
Learn More
To look more into single-use packaging and more sustainable alternatives, one notable hour-long documentary is PBS’s The Plastic Problem1 (which can be found on Youtube or linked below). For more about plastic itself, check out NOVA’s clip “Plastics: Durable, Diverse, and Indestructible”2 (available on the PBS website or below).
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RDc2opwg0I
- https://www.pbs.org/video/plastics-durable-diverse-and-indestructible-n6t2rr/
Resources
- “The Reality of Bamboo Products” by Climate Policy Watcher
- “Sustainability dilemma of hemp utilization for energy production” by ScienceDirect
- “New York City restaurants partner with DeliverZero to provide reusable takeout containers” by CBS News
- “This startup aims to take the trash out of takeout” by CNN
- “Why compostables and bioplastics aren’t the answer” by Upstream
- “Mass. Company Provides ‘Usefull’ Solution to Single-Use Food Containers” by ecoRI
- “Governor Healey Celebrates Climate Week by Establishing Nation’s First Long-term Biodiversity Goals, Single-Use Plastic Bottle Ban” by Mass.gov