Takeaway and delivery apps pledge to reduce plastic waste
Third party food delivery partner Deliveroo and takeaway app Just Eat have pledged to limit the plastic used in their deliveries.
Just Eat revealed it is developing condiment packets made from seaweed, which decompose in six weeks and are edible.
Consumer research also found that 74% of customers do not need or use items such as plastic cutlery, straws and sauce sachets in their food delivery order, and would prefer their takeaways to arrive without them.
Graham Corfield, UK managing director of Just Eat said: "Many of the plastics polluting our oceans are by-products of food and drink consumption. As the market leader in online food delivery, we are using our influence to drive more environmentally-friendly behaviour among our restaurant partners and customers. This is just the first step and we look forward to working with our partners and suppliers to support innovation in the sector."
Emma Cox, Deliveroo's product marketing manager, told Sky News that Deliveroo was also taking steps to reduce the amount of plastic used in takeaway packaging.
She said: "It's going to involve everyone in the food industry coming together to do this and also customers playing their part. We've been sitting down with our restaurant partners and manufacturers to identify where there are gaps and where we need to find better plastic alternatives."
Starting next week, Deliveroo will also have an opt-in button for plastic cutlery.
The announcements come after café chain Pret a Manger announced it will be introducing a 10p plastic bottle deposit scheme in three stores in Brighton this April. The 10p charge will be refunded when customers return the bottles to the store.
If successful, the scheme will be rolled out across the UK.
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