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Huhtamaki – Committed to Going Green

14th November 2007, 12:46pm

With more and more customers asking about the environmental implications of their disposable tableware products, packaging innovators Huhtamaki are committed to providing products that exceed customer expectations, as John Young, Huhtamaki’s Foodservice General Manager, UK and Ireland explains:

"Many customers are keen to know about the environmental and economic costs of using BioWare compared to conventional disposables, but when seeking to answer these questions, we could find no definitive answers in the existing research available. With the help of Oxford Brookes University, we have tried to identify the environmental impacts of using biodegradable disposables within contract catering and Quick Service Restaurants – from point of use in a catering establishment, to disposal – not only today, but the way these may change in the future too."

The research undertaken by Oxford Brookes identified CSR initiatives as the key reason for the significant increase in demand for biodegradable products, especially within the contract catering sector. Other key markets penetrated by "environmentally responsible" tableware include workplace, outdoor and event catering.

In order for Huhtamaki, as the manufacturers of BioWare, and the caterers who use it, to benefit from this increase, they must focus on finding waste management solutions that ensure the economic and environmental benefits of selecting biodegradable products are fully realised.

Research also saw that client businesses for contract caterers are becoming more "savvy" about the environmental products they specify, and so caterers and other intermediaries are having to become more knowledgeable – specifically about the products which meet international standards and about the impacts of biodegradable as opposed to conventional disposables.

Not only does choosing biodegradable tableware improve the "image" of the establishment, it also provides an opportunity to eliminate existing inefficiencies (such as replacing economy plates with stronger biodegradable ones, so users take one rather than two). The use of "flimsy", conventional disposables can be eliminated if they are replaced by more sturdy biodegradable products. In addition sales may increase – the public are attracted to the look, feel and ethical credentials of "bio-packaging".

Finally, there are opportunities to utilise alternative forms of waste disposal, thus reducing landfill associated waste costs that are less easily accessible when non-compostable tableware and food waste need to be separated. Effective non-landfill waste solutions require comprehensive testing within the sector to build confidence about appropriate alternative food waste disposal options, something John Young supports.

"We are committed to working with our customers to identify appropriate non-landfill waste management solutions to ensure that the full economic and environmental benefits of selecting BioWare products are accrued."

Catering businesses willing to investigate and work with clients to implement waste management solutions that include an element of composting may be able to improve competitiveness (and off-set the cost margin associated with selecting biodegradable products). Those choosing to compost waste, as part of their commitment to CSR, will reduce the need to separate food and plate waste when using biodegradable tableware products alongside an appropriately specified compost technology.

In summary, functionality concerns will diminish as products become more sophisticated and fit for purpose, and whilst biodegradable products are currently slightly more expensive than conventional disposables, they have clearly become the new "must-have" accessory for catering establishments in any business that makes claims to being socially responsible. This increase is set to continue, as highlighted in additional independent research, also commissioned by Huhtamaki this year:

"The growing interest in biodegradable products has not yet translated into a significant increase in volume of sales. Our market research, however, illustrates that more than half of the contract caterers questioned within the hospitality sector are anticipating that sales of biodegradable products will increase by 20% or more in future years."

Thanks to this increased demand, and the fact that waste management costs are set to be pushed up by taxation, it is likely that the cost differential between biodegradable and conventional products will narrow significantly. Furthermore, as regulations regarding CSR reporting tighten (from October 2007), it is likely that even more of these large corporates will adopt CSR programmes and request environmentally responsible tableware options. Initiatives in the public sector will also increase interest.

Linda Salt, Huhtamaki's UK Foodservice Marketing Manager said: "Huhtamaki have been actively working to deliver BioWare products to ensure that they combine quality, functionality and minimal environmental impacts. We are committed to working with our customers to provide products that meet their needs, that help them access the cost and environmental benefits of their choice and that conform to international standards for biodegradation and compostability."

To find out more, or to receive a summary version of the research, please call Huhtamaki Marketing on 02392 512434.

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