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Food-to-go Without Packaging Waste

Especially during the corona pandemic, we should support local gastronomy – for example by ordering take-away food. However, mountains of garbage with food packaging are not an option from an environmental point of view. Reusable containers for food-to-go can be the solution. We present four initiatives to you.

Disposable cups for coffee-to-go are not necessary – many have now understood that and can only fill their coffee in the bakery or in the café into the container they have brought with them. Unfortunately, during the corona pandemic, this no longer works in all restaurants; many bakeries no longer accept cups you have brought with you. That’s why many of us seem to be falling back into old paper cup habits these days.

But that’s not all: Due to the Corona-related restaurant closures or now for fear of infection, many people have food delivered or take it home. This is good for gastronomy, but: Styrofoam packaging, aluminum trays and plastic bags quickly pile up after the meal. And what the pizza boxes on river and lake shores are to in the summer, the paper cups are to the colder months of the year.

Figures from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) show that packaging waste in German households is constantly increasing. In 2018, we caused a new negative record of 18.9 tons of packaging waste, as the UBA recently announced. When walking, it is currently noticeable: In many places, the packaging waste no longer even fits in the garbage cans provided, but ends up in the meadow or next to the sidewalk.

Less packaging waste: food-to-go in reusable containers

Dishes to take away or calling the delivery service do not necessarily mean more packaging waste. Reusable systems for food-to-go show that there is another way. We present four Germany-wide examples.

Of course, the following applies to all reusable containers: the more often they (can) be reused, the better. When it comes to the eco-balance, reusables come off much better if one container can replace a large number of disposable cups and the like, making production quicker to pay off.

Reusable with food-to-go

According to its own statement, reCIRCLE Germany is the largest reusable system for takeaway food in German-speaking countries that works with a deposit system. The initiative has existed in Stuttgart since 2017.

This is how it works: The first time you order a reCIRCLE box from a participating restaurant for a deposit of ten euros. You can return the leak-proof and non-toxic plastic box to any participating restaurant and get your deposit back or exchange the used box for a fresh one the next time you order. You can currently choose between five different box sizes. According to the company, it is currently working on additional reusable packaging for pizza.

Here there is the multi-way system: over 200 participating restaurants in Germany, for example in Stuttgart, Munich, Regensburg, Frankfurt, Bremen, Hamburg and Berlin; in Switzerland there are even over 1400 participating restaurants.

Incidentally, when it comes to the ecological balance, reCIRCLE writes that their reusable boxes may pay off after the eighth reuse, depending on the material of the disposable packaging only after the 16th use.

Reusable bowls from Rebowl for zero-waste food-to-go

Quite new on the market: Rebowl, a Germany-wide deposit system for reusable take-away bowls. According to the company, the reusable containers are microwaveable, 100 percent recyclable and BPA-free. You should also be able to reuse them at least 200 times.

Behind Rebowl stands Recup, which many of you may already know from the Recup reusable coffee mugs. Since July 2020, in addition to the Recup cups, there have also been Rebowl bowls, which – if the founders have their way – should become the Rebowlution.

This is how it works: When you order your first meal, you get the reusable bowl for a deposit of five euros. You can then return the bowl and lid to all REBOWL partners throughout Germany and get your deposit back, or you can exchange the used bowl for a new one when you place a second order.

There is a returnable system here: in numerous cities throughout Germany, for example in Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg, but also in smaller cities such as Konstanz, Braunschweig and Karlsruhe.

Vytal: reusable boxes without a deposit

Vytal is a digital reusable system for takeaway and food delivery. What makes it so special is that it can be used via an app and there is no deposit or other fee for the reusable containers. Recently, Vytal has even been certified with the Blue Angel. Among other things, the seal guarantees that the reusable containers are made of environmentally friendly and durable material and can be washed at least 500 times.

How it works: To participate, you have to download the Vytal app. After successful registration, you can use the map to see which participating restaurants are in your area. With a QR code you will receive your food in a BPA-free reusable bowl when you pick it up. Important: You have to return the bowls to a participating restaurant within 14 days of ordering, otherwise a fee of ten euros will be charged.

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Plastic Packaging for Fruit and Vegetables: No-go or Necessary?

Apples, grapes and tomatoes often come in plastic wrap or plastic trays. Huge mountains of plastic are the result. Should we only buy unpackaged fruit and vegetables, or does the plastic wrap in the supermarket sometimes make sense?

Whether it’s apples in a plastic bag or a three-pack of peppers in a plastic jacket. Many types of fruit and vegetables are packed in plastic – including large mountains of rubbish.

Especially if it is disposed of incorrectly, plastic waste damages our environment and pollutes the oceans. One area where a lot of plastic can be saved is food packaging – especially fruit and vegetables.

Plastic waste in private households has increased significantly since the beginning of the corona pandemic. Since March, there has been around ten percent more packaging waste, as the recycling company “Der Grüne Punkt” reported to ZDF. Although commercial waste fell in the same period, more waste was produced overall. Time to reduce plastic waste as soon as possible.

First rule: reduce plastic waste in food packaging

When you buy fruit and vegetables, you often have a choice between individual, unpackaged goods and bulk packs in plastic wrap or trays. Here the choice seems clear: You can buy fresh fruit and vegetables individually and thus avoid plastic packaging, which immediately becomes plastic waste after consumption. Reusable reusable nets are suitable for transport. Because the top priority in waste management is waste avoidance.

Where you have the choice between unpackaged fruit and vegetables and goods with plastic packaging, you should therefore choose the plastic-free variant – even during the corona pandemic you can shop without packaging without hesitation.

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin explains that there are no proven cases in which people have contracted the corona virus through contaminated food. Many people continue to reach for unpackaged apples, tomatoes and cucumbers. The trading company REWE, for example, did not notice any changes in buying behavior among its customers during the Corona crisis.

Sometimes packaging makes sense

Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple. For some types of fruit and vegetables, packaging may be necessary because the goods would otherwise spoil quickly. Take lettuce, for example: without protective packaging, lettuce spoils quickly in the supermarket and most consumers no longer buy wilted lettuce. In such cases, packaging can prevent unnecessary food waste.

In a regional test, REWE refrained from packaging organic fruit and vegetables for six months and came to the conclusion that the company could save three tons of plastic a year nationwide with unpackaged organic iceberg lettuce. However, due to the lack of a plastic protective cover, an estimated 18.5 tons of organic iceberg lettuce would spoil every year, making them unsellable.

REWE came to similar conclusions with other lettuce, organic broccoli and organic berries. Broccoli, for example, blooms faster without packaging and loses its freshness. Berries are very delicate and also need protective packaging. Packaging is therefore not bad per se: it can protect the fruit and vegetables and keep them fresh for longer. Elaborate plastic packaging is not necessary.

But: If packaging, then as environmentally friendly as possible

Even though certain fruits and vegetables need protection to keep them fresh for longer, multi-wrapped plastic packaging remains harmful to the environment. An interim solution is therefore optimized packaging.

Paper packaging or cardboard packaging is usually an improvement over the plastic cover. Customers often simply want to bundle their fruit and vegetables and therefore choose the grapes or cherry tomatoes in the plastic tray. Cardboard boxes are usually sufficient here – the plastic coating is usually not necessary. Nets, such as those used for onions and potatoes, are also a good alternative.

Packaging solutions at REWE

REWE has drawn conclusions from its unpackaged test: with immediate effect, the supermarket chain will dispense with or optimize packaging for organic fruit and vegetables. As a result, REWE saves 210 tons of plastic and 80 tons of paper every year. Where it is not possible to dispense with the packaging, the packaging is optimized.

PENNY is also permanently converting its organic fruit and vegetable items – the Naturgut Bio-Helden – to plastic-free packaging or unpacking it wherever possible. As alternatives, more environmentally friendly cardboard and paper packaging, cellulose nets or bands and stickers are used – the cucumber, for example, remains completely unpackaged. This can save up to 50 tons of plastic annually in the long term.

All in all, the REWE Group has already made more than 2,000 own-brand packagings more environmentally friendly – true to the motto: avoid, reduce, improve. As a result, REWE and PENNY alone use around 8,000 tonnes less plastic each year.

In order to achieve this amount of savings, REWE and PENNY are reducing the film thickness of the packaging and are often switching from film packaging to adhesive tape rolls or adhesive labels. Customers can also buy a reusable net and carry the fruit and vegetables home in it. Grass paper or FSC-certified paper is used for fruit boxes.

REWE also transfers the findings from the unpackaged test to the conventional range. Recently, for example, ripened avocados and mangoes are no longer packed in trays and optimized packaging is used for berries.

Conclusion: It is mainly up to us as buyers: With our purchase, we determine whether supermarkets will use more or less (plastic) packaging for fruit and vegetables in the future. And also when a food is considered unsellable – if a head of lettuce has a wilted leaf or an organic apple has a small dent, you can still buy and eat it with a clear conscience. If we deliberately choose imperfect pears, carrots or potatoes more often, we reduce food waste and contribute to less food ending up in the bin.

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What Does the Packaging Tell Us About the Quality of the Beans?

According to a Statista forecast, 10.35 kg of coffee will be consumed per capita in Finland in 2017. Finland leads the statistics. The Finns prefer to drink filter coffee, not coffee from the coffee machine for the office. Since drinking coffee is so important for citizens, there are even legally regulated coffee breaks during working hours – 2 x 15 minutes a day. Light roasts are predominantly drunk, as these used to be cheaper than darker roasts.

The Dutch will drink around 9.58 kg in 2017, securing second place among the biggest coffee lovers. Unlike in Germany, the Dutch also drink coffee in the evenings. The filter coffee machine is also widespread, but the popularity of other systems such as capsule machines and fully automatic coffee machines for the office is also increasing. Like most coffee-drinking countries, the Netherlands also have their own coffee creations, e.g. the “Koffie verkeerd”.

This creation is similar to a latte – lots of milk and little but strong coffee. This coffee specialty is usually served in a glass. In general, one can say that the coffee cups at our neighbors are rather small.

According to the forecast, the Swedes will take third place with a coffee consumption of 9.4 kg. The word “fika” shows that drinking coffee is anchored quite deeply in the culture. It is often translated as “drinking coffee” or “coffee break”, but this does not convey the full meaning of the word. Fika is not for those in a hurry, as it represents a coffee culture that takes its time. You talk about everyday things, but also discuss problems and conclude contracts.

Usually there are also sweet pastries such as cinnamon rolls with the fika. You will rarely find a coffee-to-go from a fully automatic coffee machine in a commercial setting.

Denmark and Norway rank fourth and fifth in global coffee consumption with 8.16 kg and 7.76 kg respectively. The Danes like to drink a lot of coffee, preferably black. Even in the evening, the Danes do not refuse a coffee. The same applies to the Norwegians. Coffee is always drunk, even in the late evening hours.

With a coffee consumption of 7.33 kg per capita, Austria takes 6th place. In Austria, there is a strong coffee culture and coffee specialties with names that are sometimes unknown to us: Kapuziner, Einspänner, Großer Brauner, Melange, etc. In general, preparing portions in portions is very popular in Austrian households. Many people have capsule systems or a fully automatic coffee machine for the office. Especially the breakfast coffee is celebrated here. But it’s not about the caffeine kick in the morning, it’s about enjoying the coffee.

In Italy, espresso is considered “coffee”. Since the espresso is much smaller than a coffee, the per capita consumption – 6.69 kg – is also lower than in other countries. Thus, Italy reaches the 7th place among the greatest coffee lovers. Cappuccino and latte macchiato are popular for breakfast in the morning. After 11 a.m., most Italians only go for espresso. If you drink your coffee in a bar, you take it standing up. At home, almost every Italian has an espresso maker for the stove. Because espresso is the coffee drink in Italy, the darker roasts are more popular.

Around 6.65 kg of coffee per capita – 8th place – was consumed in Germany in 2017. The favorite variant of the Germans: filter coffee. Therefore, medium roasts are also the preferred roast degrees. However, more and more offices are purchasing fully automatic coffee machines for commercial use. In general, there are no rules or traditional behaviors in Germany when it comes to enjoying coffee. Everyone drinks their coffee the way they like it best: with milk, with sugar, strong or mild, decaffeinated – everything is allowed.

Whole beans, but also pads and capsules recorded sales growth in 2016. Even if other systems are becoming more and more popular, almost every German household has a filter coffee machine in the cupboard.

Estonia comes in 9th with around 6.48 kg, followed by Switzerland in 10th place with 6.31 kg. The Czech Republic is in 11th place with 5.01 kg of coffee per capita. Around 4.88 kg of coffee is expected to be consumed by every Irishman in 2017 – 12th place.

France secured 13th place with a per capita coffee consumption of 4.8 kg. France is best known for its café au lait, which is often drunk for breakfast and from a handleless bowl. The special thing about the café au lait: coffee and milk are poured in at the same time. Fully automatic coffee machines for the office can prepare this drink perfectly. At noon and in the afternoon there is often an espresso. If you watch your wallet, you can drink your espresso right at the counter. This is often more expensive outdoors.

In Greece – 16th place with a coffee consumption of 4.52 kg per capita – café frappé is a popular drink. This is a cold coffee that is very popular in summer. It consists of instant coffee, sugar and some water. This mixture is whipped with a frappe foamer or shaken in a cocktail shaker until foamy. Then ice cubes are added.

Even if you order a “coffee” in Spain, you lighten up an espresso. Accordingly, Spain only comes in 20th place with 4.25 kg of coffee per capita. The café con leche is similar to a milk coffee. When ordering, you may well be asked whether you would like cold or warm milk in your coffee. If you want a “bigger coffee”, you can order a café americano. Depending on this, it is filter coffee or an extended espresso from a commercial coffee machine.

Dark roasts are very popular in Spain. There is even a Spanish roast where sugar is added to the beans. The sugar coats the beans and caramelizes them. The coffee can be roasted longer, but it doesn’t taste as bitter.

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