Hey Summer, Bye Plastics

900,000 tonnes - that's how much plastic waste is produced in Austria alone every year. Around 50,000 tonnes of this is exclusively beverage packaging. Disposable plastic cups in particular are a major burden: Around 300 million of them are consumed in Austria every year. Not only do they require a lot of effort to dispose of, but they also require a number of valuable raw materials in their production: Around 34 million kWh of energy are required for the production of disposable cups in Austria per year. This corresponds to the annual electricity consumption of over 9,000 households. At the same time, 160 million litres of water are needed, which is equivalent to the annual water consumption of 3,350 Austrians.

In addition, disposable cups are only in use for a very short period of time: 15 minutes on average they are in use, then they are thrown away. The life span of a plastic bag is hardly better: it is used for an average of 25 minutes.

EU directive celebrates anniversary

If plastic waste is not disposed of properly, it has a long-term negative impact on the environment. the environment in the long term: plastic does not dissolve but plastic does not dissolve, but ends up in the water, where it breaks down into into smaller and smaller pieces and consequently becomes microplastics and into the groundwater.

In order to reduce the volume of plastic waste, a Against this background, an EU directive came into force on 3 July 2021. Disposable plastic products, such as cutlery, plates, bowls and drinking straws, may only be produced and used to a limited extent. However, coffee to go and sipping your summer drink through a straw through the drinking straw. Alternatives for cups, drinking straws and the like have long been in circulation.

Reusable packaging as an all-round solution?

Reusable packaging in particular is an attractive and especially environmentally friendly alternative. The big advantage: reusable products such as tableware and transport boxes made of plastic or porcelain can be used for years, which saves raw materials and energy. Due to their stability and heat resistance, they are easy to transport and clean. In addition, the use of reusable packaging can also improve the image of restaurants: End customers associate sustainable packaging with high quality and thus value the products better - increased customer loyalty is the result.

In everyday restaurant life, however, the model of reusable packaging also poses challenges - especially in to-go concepts. One solution would be to actively encourage customers to bring their own cans and cups and to reward appropriate behaviour with a benefit system.

Drinking cups: added value through reusable, glass & palm tree

Whether it's a splash to go, a beer at a concert or a scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day: disposable cups are increasingly used, especially in summer. But what alternatives are there to conventional plastic and polystyrene?

Basically, reusable cups made of stainless steel, glass or ceramic are the best choice. However, since these are not break-proof, they pose a real danger, especially at large events. especially at large events. One solution is reusable plastic cups. plastic. These offer a good eco-balance due to the low resources, are unbreakable and can add value with their own branding can bring additional added value. These are particularly interesting for clubs and large events. Cups made from exotic raw materials can also be used as disposable alternatives. raw materials: Bamboo, palm or bagasse. Bagasse, in particular, is an attractive alternative, as it is a waste material material used in the production of sugar, which thus has an additional which thus has an additional use. Apart from that, the material is 100 percent natural and easily degradable.

The wide world of drinking straw alternatives

From macaroni noodles to grasses as drinking straws, restaurateurs have become very creative in finding alternatives to straws. Of course, long-lasting reusable products made of glass tubes, stainless steel or silicone. stainless steel or silicone. But there are also some attractive disposable alternatives. Stiftung Warentest particularly highlights cereal-based drinking straws: these soften only very slowly and can simply be eaten after drinking. and can simply be eaten after drinking. However, they However, they do give off a slight taste, which is not noticeable in most refreshments with their own flavour. Bamboo straws are another alternative. A major disadvantage, however, is that drinking straws made of this material cannot be material are not available in curved or coloured versions, but only as they grow in nature. Bamboo also gives off a slight taste of its own, but is unbreakable. but is unbreakable. The last alternative is straws made of paper straws. Although these are unbreakable and do not give off any flavour of their own, they soften very quickly and are therefore rather unpopular. therefore rather unpopular.