Google is inviting food and beverage companies that offer single-use, plastic-free packaging solutions to apply for its Single-Use Plastics Challenge, which aims to reduce the food service industry’s plastic footprint and implement more sustainable solutions at its own sites.
The initiative is being hosted in collaboration with Canteen, a premier food service management company, and other food service partners. Successful entrants can pitch their solutions to Google and test them at its cafes and MicroKitchens in the US.
In turn, Google hopes to eliminate single-use disposable products from its on-site food service operations and implement more reusable packaging, distribution, and delivery solutions. Each product is expected to meet federal, state, and local food safety regulations and the Google Food programme’s health, environmental, social, and financial standards.
According to National Geographic, 91% of plastic goes unrecycled and ends up in landfills or the environment. Google hopes that its initiative will contribute to wider industrial action to usher in a circular economy for packaging.
Reusable container company BIBAK raised €6 million in additional funding in February. It expects to use the money to take advantage of the French ban on single-use packaging in restaurants and cafes.
Total Energies’ Renewable polymer has also been applied to food-contact drop-in solutions by Intraplás in pursuit of a lower carbon footprint for customers.
Last year, the Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund awarded $100,000 to Releaf Paper to assist in producing paper packaging from cellulose fibre found in fallen leaves.
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