Just Eat launches eco-friendly seaweed-lined takeaway box
Just Eat has launched a takeaway box that is recyclable, home-compostable and will degrade within four weeks.
The packaging, which is a joint venture with Notpla, comprises a cardboard container made from tree and grass pulp and then lined with seaweed. It has been designed to be water-resistant and greaseproof, so customers can still enjoy their takeaway without the plastic waste.
The world’s first seaweed-lined takeaway box is now being tested with three restaurant partners in London, which will stop about 3,600 plastic boxes from entering the waste stream.
It is estimated that 500 million plastic takeaway boxes are used across the UK takeaway industry each year, and even if these plastic boxes get reused multiple times, they often end up in landfill.
The project builds on the success of Just Eat and Notpla’s seaweed-based sauce sachets, which has so far prevented 46,000 plastic sachets from entering customer homes.
Andrew Kenny, Just Eat UK managing director, said: “At Just Eat, we are committed to using our scale and influence to drive a more sustainable future for the food delivery industry. From removing single use plastics to pioneering the use of seaweed sauce sachets, we’ve already taken a number of positive steps to encourage more environmentally-friendly behaviour among our restaurant partners.
“Over half a billion plastic boxes are used across the takeaway industry every year and we know that eventually, they end up in landfill. This is why, we’ve been working closely with Notpla to create an innovative alternative that is recyclable, home-compostable and which degrades in a matter of weeks. We’re delighted to bring this new takeaway box to trial and look forward to assessing the results with the aim to roll these boxes out across the UK and our other markets, so that customers across the globe can enjoy their favourite takeaways more sustainably.”
Pierre Paslier, co-CEO of Notpla, added: “Cardboard takeaway boxes either contain synthetic additives or are lined with plastic. With this box, we are offering a real plastic-free, naturally biodegradable option for the takeaway market. Just Eat is a great driver for more sustainable packaging and we’re really excited to help them shake up the industry.”