Takeaway food packaging and our environment 

At Fidra we are looking into alternative options to the current materials being used in takeaway food and drinks receptacles, focusing specifically on the town of North Berwick where we are based.  Read our blog to find out more. 

By working alongside local businesses, councils and community groups, we hope to find a suitable scheme that reduces, and indeed eradicates, these unsustainable materials being used in the town for takeaway items.

Considering compostables, resuables and recylables

One option is for North Berwick to become an exemplar in using compostable food packing. Compostable products are made from a wide variety of raw materials, such as corn-starch, which are often waste products themselves. If disposed of correctly – in a food waste stream or through industrial composting – these items will biodegrade and will not be contaminated by leftover food.  

Although there are significant logistical challenges to this option, if set up well and with commitment from local businesses, communities and tourists alike, we feel that this would be a suitable and viable option for North Berwick.  

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require that from the end of 2016 all business and organisations that produce over 5kg of food waste a week in urban locations, must segregate this as a separate waste stream. In time, this will include any biodegradable waste being sent to landfill from 2020. Therefore, establishing an effective system in North Berwick as soon as possible is something we are excited to be a part of.

To help North Berwick move forward and be able to embrace these changes, Fidra is working with local businesses, associations and councils to consider how they could transition away from the use of non-recyclables in take away food packaging, and encourage the exploration of alternative options.

The community is establishing a Steering Group made up of a variety of different stakeholders who will help make decision on what options to trial within the town. If you would like to get involved in this steering group, please contact info@fidra.org.uk.

Local businesses team up to ‘close the loop’

Vegware’s Close the Loop system, which collects food waste and compostable packaging to convert to compost to be used on soil, has been taken up by two local businesses, Steampunk Coffee Roasters and Archerfield Walled Garden.  Both have found that using the system has encouraged them to examine their waste streams and make changes that have saved costs. 

Elly Douglas-Hamilton, Director of Archerfield Estates Ltd, comments “Working together with other local businesses like Steampunk means that we can share information and ideas and start translating these ideas into practical reality. I hope this is something we can encourage other businesses in doing and help us all to realise that perceived barriers are perhaps not as great as they seem.” 

Oxford county’s reusable cups 

Keep It Green for Oxfordshire sells reusable cups through Beanbags Coffee company and all profit goes towards supporting environmental initiatives.  Cafes and restaurants who buy the reusable cups receive a free window sticker to show that they support the country-wide campaign.  

From New York to North Berwick [6] 

New York has become the next city to announce a ban on the use of single use EPS items. From January 2019, a law preventing the use of polystyrene products will come into effect, banning food service establishments, shops and manufacturers to possess, sell or use EPS products, such as food and product packaging.  

The Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Mark Chambers explained “This is a pivotal and long-overdue step to protect New York City from the unnecessary damage Styrofoam does to our streets, water, and people.”  

Seattle setting a trend [7] 

Since 2009, when Seattle’s ban on the use of EPS was introduced, the city has continued to lead by example on the battle against single use food packaging and items. A further ban on non-recyclable and non-compostable food packaging was brought into effect in 2010, and the recent introduction of a ban on all plastic straws and cutlery in July this year has demonstrated their continued commitment.   

The City of Seattle request that all food service businesses use either compostable or recyclable alternatives, provide suitable bins for staff and customers to dispose of these products in, and are signed up for their waste to be collected by a collection service provider.