Eco-Friendly Food Packaging

Eco-packaging has been a major issue with the foodservice industry. With environment conservation acquiring new dimensions since the last few years, biodegradable packaging has gain more importance. With Maharashtra declaring plastics as unwanted product and levying penalties not only on establishments using plastic cutlery and bags but also on the users, eco-friendly packaging has once again has come into the limelight. The search for biodegradable packaging by the food & beverage industry has brought up a new investment opportunity for enterprising entrepreneurs. Ashok Malkani takes a look at the evolution of market for biodegradable packaging and, also, at the alternatives for plastic packaging and cutlery being used by the foodservice industry.

- Ashok Malkani

The ban on plastics in Maharashtra introduced few months ago has, according to analysts, not only taken a toll on the Foodservice establishments, who rely on to-go food orders from diners, but also, once again brought the eco-friendly packaging issue in the forefront.

Since most of the Indian foodstuff is gravy based, packaging it for carry-home service is becoming extremely difficult for the restaurateurs. Orders for takeaways and home delivery parcels have witnessed a drastic drop as the eateries now have to identify new packaging material which could not only be eco-friendly but also make economic sense for packaging foodstuff.

Traditionally food packaging industry comprised mostly of articles made from plastics, metals, glass or paper. However, as far as cooked meals are concerned plastics has been the major product, particularly for carry-home stuff doled out by the restaurants. The plastic ban in Maharashtra has affected the parcel business severely. The plastic ban in Maharashtra has, according to one report, affected the restaurants in Mumbai adversely with most of them reporting a 10 to 30 per cent dip in business ever since the plastic ban came into effect.

Santosh Shetty, president, Mumbai unit of Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR) says "It is difficult to say the exact per cent of the slowdown in business but more than half of the takeaway orders have been affected." He is of the opinion that the state government should have made arrangements for alternatives before starting the complete plastic ban.

It is worth mentioning that twenty five Indian states/Union Territories now have some form of ban on polythene carry bags and other packaging material. Every day, Indian cities generate 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste, with about 66% being mixed waste – polybags and pouches used to pack food.

The Foodservice Situation