No doubt about it, restaurants, bars and take out spots are extremely popular in the U.S. So much so, statistics show people spend more of their budget on eating out than for groceries. With a sizeable portion of food and drink orders coming in plastic containers accompanied by plastic utensils and plastic straws, environmentalists have grown concerned over the amount of plastic being generated, as well as the impact throwaway plastic containers have on our planet.
The numbers back up their concerns. According to a Plastics & Table Graph from the American Chemistry Council and National Association of PET Container Resources at www.epa.gov, 390 tons of plastic was generated in the United States in 1960. By 1970, plastic generation jumped to 2,900 tons, then steadily increased over the decade with 6,830 tons of plastic produced in 1980. The amount more than doubled to 17,130 pounds in 1990. By 2000, plastic generation leaped to 25,550 tons followed by continued demand over the next several years with a total of 34,500 tons of plastic produced in 2015 – and on it goes.
It is true some plastic can be recycled or used to generate energy, but the same Plastics & Table Graph shows the lion’s share of plastic still winds up in our nation’s landfills – 26,010 out of 34,500 tons in 2015. The plastic “that gets away” often winds up littering our landscape or floating in our rivers, lakes, and oceans – causing pollution not to mention a threat to wildlife. In response to the growing concern over plastic trash, some municipalities, states, and private companies have pushed to ban products such as plastic straws and utensils. Seattle became the first major US city in 2019 to ban single-use straws and utensils. Diners in California are not given plastic straws unless they specifically request them, while Starbucks, American Airlines and other corporations have vowed to stop offering plastic straws. We applaud the efforts and are proud to do our part by offering green & eco-friendly foodservice products as an alternative to plastic or foam products.
From straws, utensils, and napkins to food containers, these paper products are made from eco-friendly, sustainable and renewable resources that are biodegradable and compostable. Tell us your needs and we will recommend the right sustainable paper products to achieve your goals. At Tognazzini Beverage Service, we keep up with industry trends without sacrificing our old-school, customer-first approach.
Interested in learning more about green & eco-friendly foodservice products? If you’re based in California, give us a call. Tognazzini Beverage also offers the latest beverage equipment AND provides maintenance and repair services on all machines, even if you didn’t buy them from us. Contact us at 800-549-1144 or use our convenient contact form for an equally speedy response.