Reducing Waste in the Food & Beverage Industry

It is somewhat intuitive that the food and beverage industry utilizes a significant amount of single use plastic. Afterall, your takeout can’t arrive in someone else’s containers. In the plastic industry, single-use plastics account for a 50% proportion of total plastics production, a major contributing factor in the 450 million tons of plastic that ends up as waste every year. Despite the necessity of sanitary precautions, the food and beverage industry faces increasing urgency to join the environmental movement, especially where plastic waste is concerned. Whether it be your favorite snack brand, the wine you pick for a Friday night, or even a meal delivery kit there are a vast variety of brands creating sustainable food and beverage options. 

Reducing Plastic Use in Food & Beverage 

While reducing plastic might seem particularly challenging in the food and beverage industry, there still remain a plethora of ways to reduce your brand’s footprint. Furthermore, increasing packaging regulations, mean food and beverage brands may have more immediate financial incentives to gain from moving away from plastic.

• Biodegradable & Compostable Packaging: Materials like seaweed-based films, compostable wraps, sugar-cane straws, or mycelium-based (mushroom) packaging are becoming more widely available and more economically viable for brands to use. Wherever your brand stands in industry, rePurpose Global’s partnerships with packaging companies that focus on sustainable options (like AE Global and Eco Enclose) make it easy to find packaging options that are viable for your business model and further your brand’s reputation as a leader in sustainability.
• Encourage Customer Sustainability with Reuse and Refill systems: Initiatives like returnable packaging for grocery products (such as programs that offer discounts for returned glassware) and reuse programs (like those that offer a discount for using a reusable cup) not only encourage customers to contribute to the environmental impact your brand is advocating for, but increase brand loyalty. 
• Plastic-Free Shipping & Supply Chains: Innovations in bulk refill stations, alternative packaging for transport, and local sourcing options make it easier for small and large businesses to limit the footprint of their products, outside of their direct inputs. Consumer studies are showing that buyers increasingly care about all aspects of their purchase and taking accountability for your product’s entire lifecycle will assure consumers they are getting the best, most thoughtful product they possibly can be.
• Restaurant & Foodservice Innovations: Swapping from plastic cutlery, straws, and takeaway containers to biodegradable or reusable alternatives can make a one time customer move to be a  regular. Moving away from plastic waste shows customers you care as much about their future and the planet’s, as you do about your business. 

Fund Plastic Recovery with rePurpose Global

Removing plastic from F&B operations poses a particular challenge when it comes to anything that humans put in their bodies. While regulations, consumer demands, and our environmental crises continue to demand a shift away from plastic, the headwinds faced by food and beverage producers, suppliers, and retailers, mean many companies in this sector will be some of the last to eliminate plastic from their operations. However, by funding plastic recovery projects (like rePurpose Global’s Impact Projects) your brand can still take action for the environment. Funding plastic recovery offers an immediate solution so your company can begin combating the plastic waste crisis while you work towards implementing long-term plastic-free solutions into your operations. 

Companies partner with rePurpose Global to remove plastic waste from the environment in several ways: 

• Plastic Recovery Pledge: a commitment to remove a certain amount of plastic annually, based on a fixed percentage of your revenue.
• Impact Guarantee: fun plastic recovery with every sale. Links each purchase directly to a fixed plastic waste recovery impact.
• ‍Plastic Neutral or Negative Certifications: funds waste recovery that outweighs or is proportion to your company’s usage.

The Benefits of Operating Sustainably

Going plastic-free and operating more sustainably in the food and beverage industry offers both reputational and financial benefits that can significantly impact a brand’s success. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, with studies showing that eco-conscious shoppers are willing to pay a premium for products with environmentally friendly packaging. A shocking 95% of US consumers would pay more for a product that funds Verified Plastic Recovery. By taking an active environmental stance, companies can attract this growing market segment, fostering brand loyalty and positive public perception. Additionally, businesses that commit to sustainability often gain a competitive edge, securing partnerships with retailers and restaurants that favor eco-friendly suppliers. 

On the financial side, regulatory pressures around single-use plastics are increasing, meaning proactive brands can avoid potential fines, adapt ahead of industry mandates, and benefit from tax incentives for sustainable practices. Furthermore, innovative packaging solutions—such as compostable materials and reusable systems—can lead to long-term cost savings by reducing reliance on petroleum-based plastics, which are subject to price volatility. Ultimately, investing in sustainability isn’t just good for the planet—it’s a strategic move that enhances brand value, mitigates risk, and boosts profitability in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

The Future Includes a Sustainable Food & Beverage Industry

The plastic crisis is not going anywhere, unless brands from every industry and sector take action today. The need for continued investment and innovation is critical, especially in the industries that rely on plastic most. The more we convince ourselves that a plastic-free future is not possible within the food and beverage industry, the harder that necessary future is to envision and attain. Thankfully, as consumer demand for eco-friendly options continues to grow, there are more and more examples of brands leading the way to sustainability in food and bev:

• MadeGood (Riverside Natural Food): MadeGood and their parent company Riverside Natural Food were founded to create sustainable snacking options. Since 2021, MadeGood has funded plastic recovery through rePurpose Global across 3 plastic-hotspot areas of India. Because they chose to partner with rePurpose, their recovery efforts have not only funded the cleanup of 4,083,884 pounds of plastic (as of November 2024), but also supported 310+ workers– empowering them with increased incomes and dignified workplaces, and 43,000 households– providing access to formal waste management for the very first time.
• BeatBox Wines: BeatBox Wines is all about music, good times, and making a real impact. In addition to their community charity partnerships, BeatBox also partners with rePurpose Global to fund plastic recovery. In 2021 alone, the certified B-Corp removed over 154,000 lbs of plastic waste through rePurpose Global Impact Projects. 
• ‍No Evil Foods: No Evil Foods makes plant-based meat alternatives, but their name doesn’t just refer to their vegan products. They also work to make their products have as little impact on the planet as possible. Their paper packaging is sustainably sourced, printed with wind power, and uses plant based inks and adhesives. They further their efforts towards sustainability by funding plastic recovery with rePurpose Global. No Evil products are Certified Plastic Negative as they fund the recovery of twice the amount of plastic as is used by their operations.

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Businesses, consumers, and policymakers have a critical role in scaling environmental solutions. These brands provide actionable examples of ways you can implement sustainability in your business today and later down the road. More suppliers are creating sustainable options than ever before and partners like rePurpose are available to work alongside you to create  a positive impact on our planet through your organization. Our teams work with our partners to create long-term operational solutions to reduce their footprints, ease environmental compliance requirements, and create an immediate impact through plastic recovery. Talk to us to start your sustainability journey today.

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