The food service industry is slowly moving away from single-use plastic cups, cutlery, containers, and more. With these tips and tricks, you can avoid plastic when eating out altogether.
What you can do
Avoid single-use plastic products when eating out
How you can do it
Dining in
- Decline or avoid buying items served in styrofoam packaging.
- Choose eateries that serve their food in biodegradable containers (like paper or other natural fiber composites).
- Choose eateries that use washable dishes and utensils instead of disposable service items.
- If you choose to eat somewhere that uses disposable service items, bring your own with you. Even reusing plastic items is better than using disposable utensils and containers.
- Decline straws and plastic lids when ordering a drink.
Ordering out
- Ask the eatery to package your food in a container you bring with you when you pick up your order.
- Take your time and dine in if that’s the only way to avoid using plastic packaging.
- Decline straws, plastic lids, and plastic utensils.
Drinks on the go
- Bring your own reusable travel mug or cup.
- Decline the plastic lid if you forget your reusable container.
- You can often have your coffee served in a ceramic cup or mug to drink on the spot.
Bakery items
- Bakeries often package their items in paper bags, but it is still preferable to bring your own bag.
Ice cream parlors
- Order your ice cream in a cone to avoid the plastic spoon and disposable cup.
- Choose ice cream parlors that serve their ice cream in paper cups instead of styrofoam.
- Bring your own container if you intend to buy ice cream to take home.
The impact
Single-use plastics make up 40% of the plastic produced globally, and the food service industry is a large contributor to this. Remember that every time you avoid single-use plastic items when eating out, you’re helping to reduce that.
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