Trial to be 100% Plastic free.
◦It has not been Possible to source a 100% plastic free option for catering.
◦At this moment in time Trenchers Catering is 75% plastic free at point of delivery using our branded white Trenchers boxes.
◦The Only plastic we use is sadly the platter bags and dip pots.
◦The Card we use for platters is 100% recycled and locally sourced.
◦ We Recycle 75% of all rubbish discarded by the business = 2200kg per week recycled.
◦As soon as plastic free sustainable options become available, we will be the fist to use it.
Corn starch bags –
Pros
Compostable
Semi clear
Keep fresh
Moisture resistant
Cons
Looks terrible
Only small bags available
Looks like cheap plastic
Larger bags would need to be manufactured – cost above £10,000 as would need to buy 100,000
compostable
Verdict – not viable
Compostable bags-
Pros
Compostable
Clear
Keep fresh
Moisture resistant
compostable
Cons
Looks terrible
Only small bags available
Looks like cheap plastic dog poo bags
Larger bags would need to be manufactured – cost above £10000, would need to buy 100,000
White or brown Kraft bags-
pros
Largest bags available just about fit
Cheap
compostable
Cons
Look cheap
Easy to rip
Not moisture resistant
Looks terrible
Would not be able to use any wet products – sliced fruit or wetter fillings and salads
Paper is breathable, meaning bread will go stale very quickly.
Current only ‘plastic free platter available anywhere only’
Pros
Looks nice
Waxy box
Strong
Cons
Plastic lid
No wet fillings – sliced fruit
Only one size that I could find
Expensive - £3 per box and insert with min order of 100 of each.
Not compostable
Other option from leading biopac packaging manufacturer. (fibre box and lid)
Pros
Strong
Water resistant to a point
All catering can be used on this box
Looks good
Cons
It uses a hard plastic lid
Not compostable
Paper wrap
Pros
Clean
Can fit all sizes of platter boxes
Cheap
Cons
Not water resistant,
Compostable,
Very time consuming to wrap,
Air can get to the food as paper is breathable meaning bread would go stale quicker
Not easy to wrap quickly, we would need to do this whilst making every other lunch.
Would not be able to use sliced fruit or wet fillings as this would wet the paper
Looks only ok.
Manufacture a box with a lid (Walsall box company is our current supplier)
Pros
Looks good
Would be branded
Fit the catering perfectly as made to measure
Cons
Would cost the following to make the lids for our boxes……
1100 (min) – 250 x 178 x 40mm @ £352.00 per 1000
1000 – 330 x 245 x4 0mm @ £418.60 per 1000
Plus Cost of new artwork & Stereos per size @ £125 and £200
Need to store 2100 boxes – no room
Not water resistant – no sliced fruit
Clean
Compostable
Plates – standard for Bnp Paribas
We use a verity of plates however the lids used are hard plastic and the platter bags are plastic meaning this will not be a viable option anymore.
Trenchers Boxes.
Our standard packaging is Card Platters however to keep the food fresh and well presented we have to use plastic platter bags. The plastic platter bag’s and dip pots are the only plastic that we use to make and transport our catering. Our delivery boxes are card, our fruit is brought from the market plastic free.
Meaning we are 85% plastic free already which is at least 50% better than any of our competitors.
We are the only caterer to have allergen information on our card boxes packaging as standard.
And now a little something about our competitors.
competitors, please see pictures below
Lazy lunch – hard plastic lid and base Philpots – hard plastic lids and base