An island the size of Texas lies between Oregon and Hawaii. This wasteland is a soupy mess of long forgotten filth. Scientists dubbed it “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch” and every Big Mac, Whopper, and Supreme Taco consumed contributes to the bulk of the island.
“Every day millions of consumers are bringing home food from restaurants and grocery stores in paper packaging produced from the world’s forests. Nearly 50 percent of all packaging is wood- and paper-based and at the same time nearly half of the waste produced every day is paper and wood,” Scot Quaranda, communications director for Dogwood Alliance, said.
Dogwood Alliance is an environmental activism organization whose mission is to hold corporations accountable for their impact on forests. According to the organization, over one third of the entire domestic waste stream consists of food packaging and containers.
With the emergence of the green revolution, many restaurants are looking to use biodegradable packaging. In 2009, the National Restaurant Association released a report suggesting that 62 percent of consumers say they are likely to make dining decisions based on the environmental factors at the restaurant.
“What sparked the change for us was a heightened awareness of the impact of our disposable products, like utensils and take-out containers”, said Dino Venti, owner of Venti’s Cafe.
They began pursuing alternative solutions in 2008 as their suppliers began offering more eco-friendly options.
Burgerville began their transition the same year.
“As of April 1st, all of the packaging pieces we use to serve our food will be compostable or recyclable,” said Alison Dennis, director of the supply chain for Burgerville.
Both Venti’s Cafe and Burgerville have turned to plant-based or polylactic acid (PLA) biodegradable containers, instead of Styrofoam or other non-biodegradable materials.
“Our compostable and recyclable packaging is made from plant-based, renewable resources, such as paper napkins, bags and wraps; utensils made from plant-based starch; and PLA clear cups and straws,” Dennis said. “We use paper products made from recycled content and from trees harvested from sustainably managed forests. We use materials made in the USA whenever possible.”
Restaurants are forced to make decisions based on their customers’ demands, as well as their own budgetary constraints. Vent’s estimates an increase of 15 to 20 percent in supply costs compared to the Styrofoam variety they previously employed. Despite the increase, he said it’s worth the extra cost because consumers appreciate the change. Burgerville, on the other hand, is seeing a large monetary return on their investment by reducing their own generated waste. According to Dennis, Burgerville is saving over $100,000 per year on their total packaging purchases. Another $50,000 a month is saved by reducing hauling fees.
“Some packaging pieces cost more, others cost less. By managing our packaging, composting and recycling as a total system, we are seeing significant total cost savings now, with more opportunities to save in the future,” Dennis said.
Both Burgerville and Venti’s are embracing new ideas and technology to further reduce their waste. Venti says that they are looking into expanding their composting and recycling operations, as well as joining two other downtown eateries, Cascade Baking and Bentley’s Grill, as Earthwise certified. Burgerville acknowledges that there is still room for improvement, particularly with items like ketchup packets and dipping sauce cups. Dennis said that they are working with product manufacturers on the next generation of sustainable packaging to help close the gap.
Burgerville’s chosen cup solution, International Paper’s ecotainer, still faces criticism by Dogwood Alliance. The ecotainer is biodegradable and comes from sustainable forests, but Quaranda insists that it’s not the final solution for the overall problem.
“Composting is good, but recycling is better, as the material can be used over and over rather than ending up in the landfill. Products like [the ecotainer] are greenwashing in our eyes, because it is a product made out of trees rather than recycled material. Whereas it is good that it will break down in the landfill, the focus should be on making sure it never ends up there,” he said. “People vote with their dollars; think when you buy and choose the most environmentally friendly products.”
