How can you reduce single-use plastics in food processing?

1 Assess your plastic use

The first step to reducing your plastic use is to measure and monitor how much you are using and where. You can conduct a waste audit to identify the sources and types of plastic waste in your food processing facility. This will help you prioritize the areas where you can make the most impact and set realistic goals and targets for reduction.

2 Switch to reusable or biodegradable packaging

One of the biggest sources of plastic waste in the food industry is packaging. You can reduce your packaging waste by switching to reusable or biodegradable options, such as glass, metal, paper, cardboard, or plant-based materials. These alternatives can offer similar benefits as plastic, such as protection, durability, and convenience, while minimizing the environmental impact. You can also look for ways to reduce the amount of packaging you use, such as using bulk containers, optimizing the size and shape, or eliminating unnecessary layers.

4 Educate and engage your staff and customers

Reducing your plastic use is not only a technical challenge, but also a behavioral one. You need to educate and engage your staff and customers about the benefits and challenges of reducing plastic waste and how they can contribute to the solution. You can provide training, incentives, feedback, and recognition to your staff to encourage them to adopt best practices and support your goals. You can also communicate, inform, and inspire your customers to choose your products and services over less sustainable ones and to dispose of them responsibly.

5 Collaborate with your suppliers and partners

Reducing your plastic use is not something you can do alone. You need to collaborate with your suppliers and partners to find solutions that work for everyone along the value chain. You can negotiate with your suppliers to reduce the amount of plastic they use or send to you, or to switch to more sustainable materials or methods. You can also partner with other food processors, distributors, retailers, or organizations to share best practices, resources, or innovations that can help you reduce your plastic use.

6 Innovate and experiment

Reducing your plastic use is an ongoing process that requires innovation and experimentation. You need to keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and opportunities that can help you improve your efficiency, quality, and sustainability. You can test and evaluate different options and strategies to see what works best for your products, processes, and customers. You can also seek feedback, suggestions, and ideas from your staff, customers, and stakeholders to improve your performance and impact.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?