Nowadays, ordering food is extremely easy. You can just choose what you’d like to eat (tap a few buttons) and have your meal delivered right to your door when it’s hot, fresh, and perfectly packed.

Food delivery apps have changed the way you eat, especially if you live in urban India.

But behind this convenience is a growing problem.

Every time you order something, it usually comes with packaging. Most of that packaging will be plastic.

For example, carry-out bags (the bag that holds your order), the liners that are inside the carry-out bags (keep hot foods away from paper), the cutlery (forks, knives, and spoons), and utensils (i.e., chopsticks, straws, etc), and containers can all have multiple layers of waste.

When you consider the tens of millions of daily deliveries that happen every day, that’s a lot of waste.

And we don’t consider where all this packaging will ultimately go.

• Most is sent to a landfill.
• Some block drains and sewer systems.
• Many pieces of plastic will break down into microplastics.

This is where the focus of the conversation is progressing toward.

Food delivery is NOT slowing down. But it does need to become more responsible.

Why Packaging Is Now a Business Decision

For many years, when you were in the food delivery business, packaging was just a cost. Managers did their best to find/manufacture/purchase as much packaging as they could for the smallest possible price.

• Brand perception
• Customer experience
• Regulatory compliance
• Environmental responsibility

Since more and more people are using food delivery services’ apps, they are talking about packaging and thinking about why they’re using the different types of packaging they use. They are also noticing how they experience packaging, regulatory compliance, and environmental responsibility.

Compostable Packaging: A Practical Alternative

Compostable packaging provides an environmentally friendly packaging option.

It has similar qualities to typical plastic materials in terms of strength and durability, yet behaves completely differently after discarding.

Compostable packaging materials are made from renewable resources and are intended to decompose into their natural state once disposed of properly.

• Compostable packaging materials do not reside in the environment for several years.
• Compostable materials do not produce any microplastics.
• Compostable materials complete the lifecycle of waste appropriately.

Because of these characteristics, compostable packaging provides a viable solution for restaurant/food delivery apps.

Where Compostable Packaging Fits in Food Delivery

Changing to compostable packaging for food delivery service does not need to occur overnight.

There are numerous opportunities throughout the food delivery value chain where compostable materials can be integrated into existing infrastructures.

Delivery system outer carry bags that hold the complete order for delivery are an ideal starting point because they are quickly and easily discarded after the order has been delivered.

Recycling these bags with compostable bags would generate an immediate reduction in plastic waste.

Like outer bags, inner layers of packaging, such as containers and wrappers, should also move to using compostable packaging over time.

Additionally, restaurants and delivery facilities (cloud kitchens) can use compostable liners for the management of their waste streams (i.e., food waste).

The effort should be as simple as possible; identify areas of highest impact with the least complexity first.

Improving Customer Experience Through Sustainability

The traditional definition of customer experience in the food delivery market has changed drastically from simply taste and speed to many different elements, including all aspects of customer orders, especially packaging. The use of compostable packaging improves the customer experience by creating a new relationship between customers and the brands in terms of how they view their purchasing from that particular brand. The use of compostable packaging:

• Reduces the guilt consumers might have about waste
• Provides a sense of taking responsibility for environmental issues
• Helps create an emotional bond with brands
• Results in customers perceiving brands as innovative
• Leads to repeat purchases and customers telling others about brands.

In today’s highly competitive marketplace, incorporating these elements into the customer experience is a requirement, not a choice.  

Regulatory Pressure Is Increasing

Various states in India are beginning to restrict or prohibit the use of single-use plastics and strengthen enforcement of existing regulations. As a result, businesses must adhere to these regulations. Due to the size and usage of food delivery platforms, they have received significant scrutiny. 

Businesses that maintain the use of plastic-heavy packaging may experience:

• Compliance difficulty 
• Operational disruptions
• Poor public image.

Consequently, companies can put themselves ahead of the regulations by switching to compostable packaging instead of being reactive to regulations after they have passed or been enforced. Companies that utilize compostable packaging will experience fewer compliance difficulties, will have fewer operational interruptions, and will develop a more positive public image.

The Operational Advantage

Many people believe that sustainable packaging makes operations more complex, but in many cases, it leads to the simplification of some operations. A good example would be the use of compostable liners in kitchens, which can lead to improved waste management. Instead of having to separate out plastics and organics, organics and plastics can go together into a composting system where one is available. This reduces manual processing and leads to more efficient operations.

Another example of the operational advantages is working with a consistent supplier of packaging. This creates a more frequent level of packaging and helps to streamline operations over time.

At Dr. Earth, our focus is to provide compostable solutions that work seamlessly with your current business systems, so there is no disruption to your business.

Addressing Cost Concerns Honestly

Cost is usually a major factor in hesitation.

While it is true that compostable packaging has a higher initial price than low-grade plastic, it would be misleading to only base the cost evaluations on price per unit. All of these costs become clearer when you factor in the business considerations of value to the business for 

• Brand
• Customer Retention
• Regulatory Compliance
• Waste Efficiency

As Demand increases and Production grows, regarding price point, those prices are becoming much more comparable.

Sustainability is becoming an expectation, not a luxury.

The Role of Food Delivery Platforms

Big businesses have the ability to create positive changes in their markets by influencing restaurants to utilize environmentally safe products through rules and regulations.

The following are examples of how some large-scale food delivery companies are experimenting with sustainable product packaging:

• Sustainable Packaging Options
• Reduction of Plastic Usage
• Raising Customer Awareness Through Promotional Campaigns

These ideas are still in their infancy and will be more mainstream as consumers learn about environmentally friendly products and practices.

Building a Future-Ready Brand

Delivery of food is a rapidly expanding industry.

However, an industry’s success without a sense of accountability is not sustainable.

A company that makes a conscious decision to adopt environmentally friendly practices and packaging materials today is positioning itself to establish its identity as a company prepared for the next generation.

They will demonstrate that they care about more than convenience; they also care about creating an impact on the world.

More Credibility = Greater Long-Term Success

The Bigger Picture

As described above, every food order represents a small event. However, there are millions of such events, and these can add up to have a tremendous impact. By making the switch to compostable packaging, the food delivery industry can:

• Minimize plastics used
• Improve the waste management system
• Sustain the environment

Don’t worry about being perfect — think about making progress!

Final Thoughts

The development of compostable packaging represents a major paradigm shift for the food delivery industry. It creates a workable balance between the convenience of delivery and the responsibility associated with delivering food. Businesses can now deliver their customers quality meals while creating little or no long-lasting impact on our environment.

At Dr Earth, we think of sustainability as being practical, dependable, and accessible; the future of food delivery will not only be measured by timeliness but by the degree to which food is delivered sustainably.

In conclusion, takeaway packaging will play an integral role in transforming the food delivery industry into one that can be reliant on both environmentally sustainable practices and technologies, as well as safe and healthy food products.

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