January 2022 Edition

SUSTAINABLE FOOD PACKAGING ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC AND STYROFOAM

T o meet growing customer demands and environmental regulations, the foodservice and hospitality industries need food packaging products that are both affordable and sustainable. Many countries, and several U.S. states, are banning single-use plastics and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” from being added to food packaging. An alarming 380 million tons of plastic are produced every year, and nearly 40 percent of plastic used across the world comes from packaging. This waste is often not recyclable. In fact, it’s estimated less than 10 percent of plastic has been recycled since 1950. Plus, consumers are demanding more sustainable products, including packaging. Some are even willing to pay a premium for products delivering on sustainability claims. Research shows 87 percent of consumers are concerned about the environmental and social impacts of the products they buy, and 80 percent say sustainability is an important factor in their purchasing decisions.

DOUGLAS HORNE

Douglas Horne is the founder and CEO of Evanesce, whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of sustainable food packaging alternatives. He is a serial entrepreneur and corporate development specialist with over 20 years of experience building successful teams and businesses in many industries. He is a passionate advocate of sustainability and the circular economy, with a purposeful focus on providing responsible solutions for the foodservice industry and end-consumers.