Eco Friendly Take Out Containers

Reusable To-go Container: What You Need to Know

Eco-friendly takeout containers offer a cost-saving, green solution for any foodservice operation that sells food for consumption elsewhere, including takeout and delivery. They can also be used on premises. When reclaimed, these containers can be run through the dishmachine for many reuses.

Choose from containers in various shapes and sizes, many of which are stackable. G.E.T.'s Eco-Takeouts™ include deep circular containers and lids that hold soups and square and rectangular boxes with domes or flat, snap-on lids that hold solid food in one or multiple compartments. These polypropylene containers are clear or a transparent jade color, reducing incorrect orders. Opaque containers made of melamine and bamboo are also available.

Common Questions About Eco-friendly Takeout Containers

Are reusable to-go containers microwave safe?

Depending on the material, these containers may be suitable for microwave use. Break-resistant polypropylene containers can be used to reheat food in the microwave but shouldn't be used for cooking. Melamine and bamboo aren't suitable for microwave use.

Is polypropylene biodegradable?

These polypropylene takeout containers aren't biodegradable. Their earth-friendly benefits are recyclability and reusability. Using and reusing the containers will reduce landfill waste; a single polypropylene container replaces as many as 1,000 foam containers and results in potential savings of nearly $250 in its lifetime.

Reusable takeout containers made of melamine and bamboo are biodegradable.

How do I implement a system for reclaiming Eco-Takeouts?

Operations using eco-friendly takeout containers can see significant savings over using foam disposables, but only if they're able to reclaim them after each use. There are two options for making sure you reclaim your containers:

• Honor system: This model, which doesn't charge guests for containers or require them to give a down payment, is ideal only for certain businesses and institutions. Consider this option if most of your guests visit daily and are likely to return containers. This model has been implemented at cafeterias in universities, hospitals, and businesses, as well as senior living communities and hotel room service operations.
• Accountability: For this model, guests make a down payment on their container and can choose to keep it or return it later to exchange it for a refund or a new container holding another food purchase. Additional incentives can include free appetizers or discounts. Ideal for operations that guests occasionally visit, this model gives restaurants, food trucks, and delivery services a way to recoup the cost of losing containers if they're unable to reclaim them. Operations can put this into practice individually or collaborate with other operations as part of a co-op to give guests more options for returning them.

How should I wash polypropylene reusable takeout containers?

Once containers are reclaimed at a point-of-sale location or special collection bin, staff can wash them in a high- or low-temperature dishwasher. Angle the open containers at 30 degrees in a peg dish rack. Use a detergent that's bleach free, along with a rinse aid designed for plastic. Plan to use a drying agent or allot extra time for drying since plastic stays wet longer than other materials.