There’s been a huge surge in demand for takeaways over the past year, so what can your business do to mitigate the environmental effects of increased business?

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses within the food and drinks industry to think differently and embracing takeaways has proven a successful means of sustaining business. Now that the doors to pubs, restaurants and other outlets are opening once again, takeaways will remain a valuable income source.

But with increased demand and an ever-changing business landscape comes an array of challenges, from the supply of cardboard to food wastage, so how can you make your takeaway business more economically viable and eco-friendly in 2021?

How to Offer an Efficient Eco-Friendly Takeaway Service

There are several different aspects to consider if you’re planning on becoming a more eco-friendly and profitable business, from using eco-friendly packaging to changing your delivery services. 

At a time when even food delivery giant Deliveroo is yet to turn a profit, we’re here to help you refine your business model, win more customers and score repeat business with a few handy tips:

1. Rethink Your Delivery Transportation Method

Keeping your food hot and fresh for your customers is a huge priority. The speed and efficiency of your delivery service could be the difference between repeat business or a negative review, but using a petrol or diesel vehicle will burn a lot of fuel and further pollute city centres. Since you don’t get a second chance at a first impression, fuel might be a negligible cost, but the environmental impact is something worth considering if you’re making a lot of deliveries all over town.

With the expansion of the ULEZ area in London, electric vehicles provide a much less polluting option for delivering your takeaways quickly without causing too much damage to the environment. Pushbikes are also a great eco-friendly alternative if you’re only operating within a small area, while the option of collection should always be available for customers willing to make the journey to you.

2. Reimagine Your Delivery Strategy

To save fuel and maximise profitability, Uber Eats introduced batched orders, much to the chagrin of thousands of its customers. It’s a delivery method used by the company when multiple orders from the same restaurant are made at the same time. Here, the delivery driver waits at the restaurant until all orders have been prepared. Then, the driver will deliver all of the orders in one trip, saving fuel and reducing the number of journeys taken. 

While this might save on fuel costs and sometimes works out better for the delivery driver, customers are often left waiting for extended periods for their food to arrive. This inevitably results in frustration and disappointment due to delayed orders and cold food, which might leave people wondering why they bothered ordering a takeaway at all.

One way around this tricky situation is to offer delivery slots that are bookable in advance. Takeaways are all about convenience, so this might not work for some businesses, but it will go a long way in helping your takeaway outlet stay on top of orders and keeping customers satisfied — just so long as you can deliver your takeaways on time. Trial some different ordering methods and see which one suits your business best.

3. Reevaluate Your Food Packaging 

The right kind of food packaging will keep your food fresher for longer and help you deliver hot, fresh and delicious takeaways to your valued customers. Although cheap, synthetic packaging might help you make more money per order in the short term, plastic packaging is hazardous to health and is putting people at risk of serious health complications. 

Our eco-friendly packaging is 100% plastic-free and biodegradable, giving you a safe and effective option to protect your customers and the environment. It doesn’t compromise on quality either. You’ll get enhanced functionality and more recyclability from products like our greaseproof pizza boxes and Kraftware, giving your customers a better experience with every takeaway.

Is Your Business as Eco-Friendly as It Could Be?

Whether you’re a large-scale takeaway business serving a huge area or a self-made startup taking your very first orders, you can optimise your operations in numerous ways to keep your customers satisfied and preserve the planet’s finite resources. By reviewing how your takeaways are ordered, packaged and delivered, you can greatly improve your customers’ experience and outshine your competitors with superior eco-friendly service.

Want to give your customers a guilt-free takeaway experience? Check out our online shop and discover our 100% eco-friendly packaging that’s 100% plastic-free.