Plastic-Free Options for Sandwich Shops
Brighton’s Kindly supermarket sells sandwiches in compostable boxes.
Plastic waste is a serious issue, especially in the food industry where single-use plastics are everywhere. Sandwich shops and delis often rely on plastic packaging and utensils, which add up to a large amount of waste every day. More sandwich shops and delis are swapping plastic bags for plastic-free options.
Read our post on food safety for people and pets.
Willow’s Choice is the eco alternative to clingfilm, made from bagasse (sugar cane waste). Sold with an easy-to-use dispenser and cutter (just like normal clingfilm), this is the perfect swap for people who wrap and sell sandwiches to the public. It’s also okay for freezer sand microwaves.
Once bought, you just buy refill rolls to fit the dispenser. And you can also buy biodegradable bagasse gloves, for hygienically handling food, in accordance with laws.
To store food, you may be interested in Agreena, a reusable silicone alternative to clingfilm (that also replaces foil) to wash and use again. Sold on a roll, silicone does contain fossil fuels (mixed with sand) but lasts for years and at end of life, is easily recycle. It also can withstand high temperatures, and stretches over glass, to keep prepped foods in the fridge fresh.
If You Care offers snack and sandwich bags that are greaseproof (so ideal for buttered sandwiches, nuts, potato chips or cookies) along with mayonnaise and oil. Made in Sweden from unbleached spruce tree pulp, they are also okay for microwaves.
Unlike most sandwich bags, these are plastic-free and not treated with petroleum or soy wax. Chlorine-free too, so no poisons dumped into our lakes, rivers and streams. The same company sells plastic-free waxed paper that is great for food prep, and also for keeping cheese or vegan cheese in the fridge.
What’s Wrong with Clingfilm?
Clingfilm is awful stuff. It remains one of the plastics that can’t be recycled, and due to removing PVC, it now does not even work properly, often falling apart when you try to wrap food with it.
It also produces ‘nurdles’ during production, which look like fish food, if they end up in the sea (which they inevitably do). There are tons of eco alternatives these days, search this site, look online – or cover your food with a plate!
Caulibox: Homegrown Reusable Food Containers
CauliBox is a company that makes reusable food containers for shops, made more popular by the recent single-use plastic ban on some takeaway containers and cutlery.
Founded by 2 London foodies in 2019, it aims to prevent 15 million single-use plastic items from being given out at takeaway restaurants and shops.
These boxes work a little differently to most reusable bowls, in that customers use an app, to find a location. The boxes are then free on loan, as long as they are returned within 7 days. With washing-up done for them! Some towns have CauliKiosks (just pop bowls back in, after lunch).
Read our post on food safety for people and pets.
CauliBoxes are leakproof and odour-proof, with a lid that seals perfectly. The stackable boxes are safe for dishwashers and microwaves, and recycled by the company after 400 or so uses. There are also CauliCups and a reusable Cauli Pizza Box!
The boxes are made in the Czech Republic to minimise air miles and Co2 production. Why not join the 10K fans using CauliBox? The company can supply to any food-service business. Users report savings of between £4K to £10K per year.
Users also automatically earn CauliCoins through their app or user account, to redeem for free food and drinks at partner locations. This is to help encourage use of the reusable alternatives.
Agreena: A Versatile Alternative to Plastic Wrap
Agreena is not yet widely sold in the UK, but the company (created by a young mother) offers free shipping, so it’s a great alternative to plastic wrap, especially for restaurants and hotels. It’s been around for years in Australia, so why are we no using it in England (still using disposable clingfilm?)
Made from food-grade silicone (a blend of oil and sand, but it does not break into millions of microplastics), it’s sold on a roll, can withstand high temperatures, and also stretches over glass bowls, to keep prepped foods in the fridge. After use, just wash and use again.
Read our post on food safety for people and pets.
You can also use Agreena food wrap to replace foil and baking paper. It can be safely used in the oven, with no fear of off-gassing or funny smells (don’t exceed 220°C (428°F). Nor use as a cutting mat.
To clean, avoid dishwashers. Instead, just wrap in warm soapy water and hang off the edge of a bench or countertop, then fold and store.
At end of use, you can use the company’s return-to-recycle program (this is based in Australia, so it’s likely best to check if you can recycle first).
Great Wrap (compostable stretch wrap from Australia)
Great Wrap is a wonderful invention from our friends on the other side of the world, to replace clingfilm, and keep food fresh in kitchen and indie shops, cafes and restaurants. Developed by scientists and bio-engineers, this is really changing the game for wrapping food worldwide.
Read our post on food safety for people and pets.
So far, this brand has saved over 15 million metres of traditional clingfilm from entering landfills. Unfortunately it’s not yet on sale in the UK, but it soon will be – or a local eco-entrepreneur could be inspired to come up with something similar?
A few of the items also use up recycled plastic, but the main player is compostable.
Great Mate is designed to dispense, slice and dice the main cling wrap, just like a normal clingfilm dispenser would.
Great Mate is designed to dispense, slice and dice our home compostable cling wrap. Open up your dispenser, pull out your desired length of wrap, slice and wrap.
