Eco-friendly materials are replacing traditional materials, and this is great for the environment. New and innovative ways to protect the environment while delivering the same quality products are taking off in a big way, and your restaurant can be a part of it.

Make the switch by replacing your single-serve restaurant supplies made from traditional materials to new eco-friendly restaurant supplies. At PacknWood, we only use materials that have a specific benefit for the environment. All of our products are FDA approved. Take a deeper look at some of the materials that we use in our eco-friendly restaurant supplies.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a type of wood that we use in utensils, baking molds, takeout boxes, and a variety of other eco-friendly packaging options. The reason we use bamboo is that it is one of the most sustainable wood options on the market. Bamboo grows much faster than other types of wood, meaning it can be replenished at a rate that is close to the rate of harvesting. There is little chance that the entire stock of bamboo will be depleted by harvesting as a result.

Your restaurant can incorporate bamboo into its operations by switching to bamboo cutlery or packing takeout in bamboo bento boxes. Bamboo is a great option since it is biodegradable, meaning it will break down in a landfill without hurting the environment. Your customers can also use it for composting at home or in community gardens.

Switching to bamboo also doesn’t limit the usefulness of your supplies. For example, bamboo takeout boxes work well for hot and cold foods, and it is microwaveable. You can use it for any food option that your restaurant has available.

Key Features:

• Hot & Cold Food Safe
• Compostable
• Microwavable
• Customizable
• Biodegradable

Bamboo Leaf

The leaves of the bamboo plant can be used to make eco-friendly restaurant supplies as well. We use those leaves to make eco-friendly containers, like food cones. The leaves are dried and pressed into shapes.

Just like bamboo, what makes the bamboo leaves so great is that they are biodegradable and compostable. That is why we use them to make plates, cones, and other single-serve packing that you can use for food trucks or food stands at events. When thrown away, they won’t create a lasting problem for the environment.

Key Features:

• Biodegradable
• Reusable
• Recyclable
• Compostable
• Hot & Cold Food Safe

CPLA: Cornstarch

Perhaps the biggest and most well-known offender when it comes to environmental impact is traditional plastic. Fortunately, advancements in science have given us a way to make plastics that do not hurt the environment. We have cutlery, plates, takeout containers, lids, and many other restaurant supply options that can replace your traditional plastic items.

One of the new types of plastic that we use is called CPLA (Crystalized Polylactic Acid, CPLA). It is a bioengineered alternative to traditional, oil-based plastics made from fermented sugars harvested from corn and similar starchy plants.

CPLA is a great alternative to traditional plastic when you need something that is heat-resistant, like coffee cup lids. Many of our cup lids and other packaging lids are made using CPLA. The best part is that it is biodegradable and won’t break down with the same harsh chemical residue that traditional plastic leaves.

Key Features:

• Biodegradable
• Customizable
• Hot & Cold Food Safe
• Sturdy

Jute

Replacing plastic bags is another major initiative in the foodservice industry. To address this growing trend, PacknWood introduced Natural Carrier Burlap Bags with Handles. They are made out of jute, and eco-friendly fabric made by harvesting fibers from several plant options.

Jute is a better alternative to plastic bags in several ways. Most notably, jute is reusable and recyclable. Your customers can use it over and over again with little wear and tear, like cotton reusable bags. Fortunately, jute is stronger than plastic and cotton, so switching to the Natural Carrier Burlap Bag with Handle means that customers are less likely to break a bag and spill their takeout.

Key Features:

• Cold Food Safe
• Reusable
• Recyclable
• Sturdy

Kraft

When it comes to paper products, traditional paper is being phased out of the industry in favor of sturdier, healthier, less resource intensive, and more environmentally friendly options. Kraft paper is one of the leading options to fill that space.

Kraft paper differs from traditional paper in that harsh chemicals are not used to make it. This is partly why Kraft paper has a distinctive brown color, since the paper is never bleached like regular paper is. Kraft paper is also more durable than regular paper, making it a better option for foods that are hot, cold, or greasy.

Kraft paper is also recyclable, making a great option for removing waste from the environment with proper recycling practices. We use kraft paper in a variety of packing options from containers to cups. Kraft paper can be formed into different shapes by layering it, so we have options of many varieties. You could likely replace most, if not all, of your packing options with something involving craft paper.

Key Features:

• Tamper-free Delivery
• Recyclable
• Customizable
• Microwavable
• Grease Resistant

Palm Leaf

Using the leaves of trees is an effective way of finding an environmentally friendly material. Palm leaf is simply the leaves from a palm tree. When they fall off, our manufacturers collect the leaves and press them into different shapes. We use them in plates and bowls as an alternative to traditional paper serveware, and they are entirely biodegradable.

You can use palm leaf serveware in your restaurant if you want to have a tropical theme. Customers enjoy the way these plates look just as much as they appreciate the eco-friendly benefits. Our plates are available in a wide variety of sizes, making them a great option for catering displays and centerpiece components.

Key Features:

• Compostable
• Biodegradable
• Hot & Cold Food Safe
• Microwavable
• Recyclable

Paper

There are many ways that you can use paper in the kitchen. While we have kraft paper options available for containers, sometimes you need a different type of paper. That is why we have paper options, like baking liners and cups, so that you can get the right type of container for high-temperature food items.

Our paper is not the same as traditional paper. We don’t use chemicals to make it. This keeps chemicals from leaching into your food. Plus, we can also make it grease-resistant for foods that can be greasy or wet.

Key Features:

• Biodegradable
• Hot & Cold Food Safe
• Grease Resistant
• Recyclable
• Customizable

PLA

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a replacement for traditional plastic made from corn. PLA is not as rigid or heat-resistant as traditional plastic or cPLA, but is often used in eco-friendly packaging. Lids are a very common use for PLA. Unlike plastic, PLA breaks down in landfills without releasing chemicals into the environment. Switch to PLA containers, like cups, if you need an alternative to plastic without the higher-temperature resistance of PLA.

Key Features:

• Biodegradable
• Customizable
• Recyclable
• Plastic alternative
• Translucent

Wheat/Reed

As disposable straws are phased out of the foodservice industry, several options are becoming more popular to replace traditional plastic straws. Reed is one of those options. Reed is, in essence, a type of wood that can be used to make straws and similar items. This is because it grows long, straight, and hollow, so it can be cut into segments to make items like straws. They are great for cold drinks, and they can be reused a few times before you recycle it.

Wheat is another option. It is largely used in the same way as reed is, to make straws and similar items. However, wheat has a smaller diameter than reed, making it a better choice for thinner items, like coffee stirrers. They both have the same eco-friendly benefits of being easy to replenish and requiring minimal work to turn into effective restaurant supply alternatives.

Key Features:

• Cold food safe
• Recyclable
• Natural
• Sustainable
• Sturdy

Sugarcane

Sugarcane can be used to create eco-friendly plates and serving dishes. When sugarcane is harvested, the sugar is extracted from it leaving behind a pulpy substance made from the remainder of the plant. This pulp can be pressed into different shapes and used to make serveware.

With its soft-white finish, sugarcane products are often reserved for special occasions where the porcelain and similar dishes would be used. Weddings and formal events see a lot of sugarcane trays and plates when using hard materials like porcelain is not possible. They are biodegradable and highly sustainable since sugarcane is widely grown and replenishes quickly. That way, you don’t have to worry about the impact of switching to a single-serve option like sugarcane instead of using a reusable option like porcelain.

Key Features:

• Biodegradable
• Hot & Cold Food Safe
• Microwavable
• Recyclable
• Sustainable

Aluminum/Stainless Steel

While they are not organic, metal restaurant supplies are among the best options for reusable supplies. They suffer little wear and tear over time, can be sterilized many times over, and offer great long-term value for restaurants. Two of the leading options are aluminum and stainless steel, which look very similar, but have properties that give each one a distinct advantage.

Aluminum is lightweight compared to other metals and is not prone to rusting since it does not contain iron. It can be polished to a fine shine, making it look as good as new every time you give it a good clean. We use it for fry baskets, towers, and other holding items that add a bit of flair to your meal presentation.

Stainless steel looks a lot like aluminum and can also resist rusting. You will notice that it is a bit heavier and more durable than aluminum, making it great for heavier food options and cooking applications where you cook and serve in the same container. When you invest in aluminum or stainless steel, you can reuse it for a long time and recycle it when you are done.

Key Features:

• Reusable
• Lightweight
• Sterilizable
• Stylish
• Recyclable

Glass

Glass is also a reusable option. We use glass because it is sterile, reusable, and durable. The unique look of glass also lends itself to being used in situations where you need to make a strong visual statement. With the addition of silicone rings for sealing, glass containers can be used for food storage. We have storage jars that are made out of glass that also make great drink containers, serving containers, and take-home containers.

Key Features:

• Reusable
• Sterile
• Durable
• Heat-resistant
• Translucent

Wood

Before plastics became a viable option for single-use and restaurant supplies, wood was the dominant material. Wood is biodegradable, recyclable, and replenishable, making it one of the best options to work with.

Our products use various types of wood to make items like bento boxes and cutlery. Switching to any of these helps keep harmful plastics out of landfills.

Key Features:

• Hot & Cold Food Safe
• Recyclable
• Compostable
• Microwaveable
• Biodegradable

Cotton

Cotton is another option that we use to make linen-like items. Napkins are one of our biggest uses of cotton. Not only are our cotton napkins better for the environment than paper, but they are also more durable. You can get more use out of cotton napkins, and we use cotton to replace many products that would traditionally be made out of paper.

Key Features:

• Reusable and single use options
• Durable
• Biodegradable
• Sustainable
• Natural

Learn More From PacknWood

PacknWood has a long history of finding ways to replace traditional materials with eco-friendly alternatives. Learn more about how your restaurant can change to help the environment while still getting high-quality restaurant supplies. Contact PacknWood at www.PacknWood.com or by calling +1 201 604 3840. Let us help you get the eco-friendly restaurant supplies that you need.