Selling take-out meals or coffee to go?

In the Netherlands, starting from July 1st, 2023, you are no longer permitted to provide your customers with plastic single-use cups or food containers free of charge, whether for take-out or delivery orders. Instead, you need to offer them a reusable alternative. These new rules impact your business, so it is crucial to understand what they mean for you. The regulations apply to various establishments, including hospitality businesses, restaurants, event booths, and coffee corners.

According to Dutch government sources, a staggering 19 million single-use plastic cups and containers are discarded daily in the Netherlands alone. To address this issue and prevent further environmental damage, a law has been enacted to ban the distribution of free plastic single-use cups and containers. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management estimates that this measure will result in a 40% reduction in disposable plastics.

It is essential to educate everyone involved and explain the new system carefully, regardless of the option you have implemented. For your regular customers who frequently order coffee and food to go, transparency is necessary to let them gain confidence in the brand. The long-term benefits of reducing single-use plastic will outweigh the inconveniences!

Read more in the following blog about how we can create a win-win situation where all parties reap the rewards by prioritizing transparency to achieve sustainability!