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To Go is the Newest Go To

Published :  May 5, 2020

To-go is the newest go-to

In these uncertain times, restaurants are shifting their menus to accommodate the increase of take-out, delivery, and drive-thru orders for those who are unable to dine in.


Shifting your operation off-premises means keeping your food a consistent temperature using a warming cabinet or cooler prior to the order going out. Packaging deconstructed meals in separate containers also helps with temperature control and can help maintain food consistency. Operators have begun using clear lids for to-go orders so employees can easily see what has already been packed to help speed up order preparation and lower the risk of potential contamination.

Social distancing has also led to a rise in food delivery, meaning restaurants that don’t typically offer their own delivery are using apps like UberEats, Postmates or GrubHub to provide delivery for their consumers. While lucrative, this means restaurants have an additional step to ensure a quality meal to their customers. Properly sealing containers and bags secures the contents from potential spills and also helps maintain the food quality, like keeping the temperature consistent. Simple solutions like sticker seals, double-bagging or even stapling a bag shut can properly secure to-go food containers and provide peace of mind for consumers.

In addition to being temperature-stable and spill-proof, there has been a growing interest in making the long-term switch from to-go containers made from Styrofoam to containers made from eco-friendly materials. Some of the most valuable practices—in terms of environmental impact and consumer importance—require relatively small, long-term changes in packaging and purchasing choices. Perhaps due to the recognizability of Styrofoam and its known eco-downsides, more sustainable packaging has been a rising interest for both operators and consumers. That’s why the National Restaurant Association named Eco-Friendly Packaging as the #1 trend in their 2020 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast.


Manufacturers are swapping out plastics, when possible, for greener containers. For example, bubly™ has taken the step to switch away from plastics by offering all varieties and sizes of their flavorful sparking water in aluminum cans. As one of the most recycled and recyclable materials available, this seemingly small switch can have a significant long-term impact on reducing the amount of plastic that currently finds its way to landfills and bodies of water, where single-use food and beverage packaging is one of the largest sources of plastic pollution in the oceans. If more manufacturers start permanently switching to more responsible packaging, and more operations choose to buy such products, the positive impact could grow exponentially for both the environment and for operators making better business decisions.

Getting take-out is the new norm for consumers to enjoy their favorite meal in the comforts of their home. Thankfully, you don’t have to make wholesale changes to your operation to accommodate this new norm. Just make this pivot by going with eco-friendly to-go packaging that keeps your food at its best quality. With simple changes, you can be on the path to making a positive impact on the environment and your business.

 

  • 1 MarketWatch, “This is how much waste Americans create—just by getting takeout food,” January 2018.
  • 2 Restaurant.Org, “Pivoting to off-premises” March 2020
  • 3 Restaurant Business Online, “Ease customer anxiety with-tamper-evident labeling” March 2020
  • 4 Restaurant Hospitality, “Best safety practices for delivery and takeout in the COVID-19 age” March 2020