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Special Report
Compostable vs. Biodegradable vs. Recyclable

Recyclable

Recyclable products are anything that can be remade into something new.

“Technically everything is recyclable,” Bedarf says. “It's kind of a misnomer to say whether something's recyclable or not. It's really what's recyclable given our current collection, sorting, and processing infrastructure.”

While materials made of most metals, plastics, glass, and cardboards are typically accepted, recycling practices vary by region.

“That little symbol at the bottom of those plastic cups that you buy is almost irrelevant,” Oshman says. “If you really want to make sure that something's recyclable, then you need to call up your recycler.”

Additionally, most paper recycling can't deal with food contamination, forcing quick-serves to throw out used cups and plates.

But when packaging is recycled, it's the best choice environmentally because it reuses a product for the same purpose.

As with compostable products, though, restaurateurs can't count on takeout customers to recycle. More important than using products that are recyclable, Oshman says, is using ones made from as much recycled material as possible.

“When a restaurant buys something like a Bio-Plus Earth made from recycled material, it's already done the good deed,” Oshman says. “It's already saved those 17 trees per ton.”

Recyclable or compostable products have only the potential to do a good deed.

The Bottom Line

Sustainable packaging is going to cost you more than standard products. We found a case of 1,000 compostable 12-ounce NatureWorks cold cups averages 97 cents per cup, whereas a 1,000 pack of 12-ounce Solo cold cups comes out to about 13 cents each before shipping.

But the price of sustainable packaging is going down as demand increases. Additionally, some of the extra cost is recovered in money saved in disposal.

“You really need to look at it from a systems perspective,” Mojo says.

Oshman has one client that actually saved 20 to 30 percent after switching the chain to compostable bamboo products.

“By and large, yes ,it can be more expensive, but there's also times when it can be less expensive,” Oshman says.

Consulting organizations such as the GRA, BPI, or SPC can help you find the best fit for your brand in terms of pricing and sustainability.

How McDonald's Did It

Bob Langert, vice president of corporate social responsibility, helped McDonald's reduce its packaging by more than 300 million pounds cumulatively in the 1990s.

He also was instrumental in helping McDonald's become a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition in spring 2005. As part of the coalition, the company makes a commitment to furthering sustainable packaging in the way that makes the most sense to them.

For McDonald's, that means that all of its packaging is assessed against a scorecard that takes the following priorities into account: minimizing weight, maximizing use of recycled materials, preference for renewable materials, minimizing the amount of harmful chemicals used in production, reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, and maximizing end-of-life options such as recycling.

“We have 82 percent renewable packaging in our portfolio,” Langert says. “The U.S. number is very close to that.”

About 30 percent of the material comes from recycled fiber, which customers see in bags, tray liners, napkins, and sandwich containers. The restaurant also uses it in shipping materials.

“We have 82 percent renewable packaging in our portfolio.”

“One of the most innovative things that we do for recycled content is in our clam shell,” Langert says. The lightweight package, which houses the company's famous quarter pounders, is made from 46 percent recycled content and about 70 percent unbleached fiber. “That's just a fantastic package from every way.”

Additionally, some of the store's locations in European markets take advantage of existing compostable infrastructure. McDonald's Austria diverts virtually its entire waste stream from landfills.

“We feel that looking at sustainable packaging first and foremost is the responsibility of the business,” Langert says. “Our work on packaging tends to be a win-win. It isn't always that way 100 percent, but overall when we can reduce, when we can conserve, when we can use less, waste less, it is good for the business.”

“In the long run if you stick with it, I think it can be a very viable business option.”

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