It’s not just about looking green anymore – it’s about creating practical, sustainable solutions
It’s not just about looking green anymore – it’s about creating practical, sustainable solutions
Have you ever considered the environmental impact of your favorite sandwich? The UAE has one of the highest rates of per capita waste generation globally. A staggering 38% of food prepared in the Emirate is wasted daily, which climbs to 60% during Ramadan. This makes the journey of our food, even something as simple as a sandwich, a critical issue to examine.
Before that let us understand: What do you mean by the carbon footprint of a sandwich?
A sandwich’s carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gases emitted from growing, processing, transporting, and packaging its ingredients, plus any waste. It’s like measuring all the pollution involved in making that sandwich.
The Ingredients’ Footprint: Every component of your sandwich has a carbon footprint. From the wheat fields where the bread begins, to the dairy farms producing cheese, to the vegetable farms, each ingredient goes through a complex supply chain, often spanning countries or even continents. This travel, especially refrigerated transport, contributes significantly to energy consumption and emissions.
The Packaging Problem: Packaging presents another major challenge. Most sandwiches are wrapped in plastic, often accompanied by additional cardboard or paper. While these materials preserve freshness and safety, they contribute to the growing waste problem.
The Perishable Nature: Sandwiches don’t stay fresh for long, and it’s hard to know exactly how many people will buy them each day. If too many are made, extra sandwiches often get thrown away. When they rot in landfills, they release methane, a gas that harms the environment.
Energy Consumption: Refrigerated storage, preparation areas, and equipment operate around the clock. Commercial refrigerators, slicing machines, and lighting all contribute to the energy footprint.
Transportation’s Impact: Distribution networks that deliver fresh sandwiches to stores, cafes, and vending machines demands more energy usage. Delivery vehicles, particularly those requiring refrigeration, leave a significant carbon trail.
Working Towards Solutions: The food industry is actively addressing these challenges, from sourcing local ingredients to implementing smart energy management systems. It’s a collective effort, and every small step counts.
Dubai is taking environmental impact seriously, and the packaging industry is responding with innovative solutions. The UAE Govt has introduced the Planet Over Plastic Pledge, where they commit to reducing packaging and single-use materials and recycling on site. This they do by collaborating with international partners. In fact, many brands are switching to paper-based packaging, and even smart containers.
Biodegradable Alternatives: Traditional plastic containers, which linger in landfills for extended periods, are being replaced with biodegradable materials like cornstarch and mushroom roots. These decompose naturally, similar to food scraps in a compost bin, leaving no harmful residue. Remember those plastic containers you get alongside your online delivery? These end in landfills. Companies are now replacing them with materials that break down naturally leaving no toxic residue behind.
Recycled and Paper-Based Options: The drive to minimize plastic use has spurred the adoption of paper-based packaging, often made from recycled materials.
Smart Packaging: Smart containers offer more than just a printed expiration date. Some now feature indicators that change color based on freshness, helping consumers reduce food waste and save money. Smart containers can tell you exactly when food is about to spoil, not just a printed date that’s often overly cautious. Some packages now come with special indicators that change color based on freshness, helping us waste less food and save money.
Clear Disposal Instructions: Companies are improving disposal instructions, moving beyond simple symbols to include detailed explanations and QR codes linking to recycling guides. Of course, all these innovations only work if we know how to handle them properly. That’s why many companies give clear disposal instructions. You’ve probably seen those little symbols on packages – but now they’re often accompanied by detailed explanations and even QR codes linking to recycling guides.
Industry-Wide Transformation: These changes are occurring across various sectors. Food delivery services are using compostable containers, while cosmetics brands are shifting to refillable packaging. Sustainability is no longer just a trend; it’s a core principle driving practical solutions. These changes are happening across sandwich industries. It’s not just about looking green anymore – it’s about creating practical, sustainable solutions that work for both consumers and the environment.
How can we reduce food wastage?
Demand Forecasting: Businesses analyze patterns like weather and local events to predict demand and prepare the appropriate amount of food, reducing overproduction.
Food Waste Tracking Systems: These systems help businesses monitor what’s being thrown away, identifying areas where they might be overproducing certain items.
Composting: Food scraps are transformed into nutrient-rich soil, diverting waste from landfills and creating a valuable resource.
Donation Programs: Unsold, but still edible, food is donated to food banks and other organizations that distribute it to those in need.
At Picnic Basket we combine these methods and significantly improve sustainability in the food industry. Thus reducing food wastage, saving money, protecting the environment, and supporting our communities.