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!