303005 Mon Mar 13 15:47:09 -0800 2006 10 29 Not About Food 0 1700520 I'm starting a new business and am wondering if there are more environmentally-friendly take-out containers (that can hold soup)than your general plastic quart sized containers. Anyone know of such a product or know where I can locate them? SouperDora Mon Mar 13 15:47:09 -0800 2006 0 SouperDora 1 1700526 Kudos for wanting to use eco-friendly containers! I found out that World Centric offers some biodegradable containers (worldcentric.org). I do not know how their prices compare with "regular" stuff, though. Best of luck with your new business! Link: http://patechinoisco.blogspot.com Mon Mar 13 17:05:21 -0800 2006 1700520 0 Pâté chinois 2 1700540 What a cool site! Thanks for linking it:) Tue Mar 14 09:20:53 -0800 2006 1700526 0 SouperDora 1 1700529 Most establishments are making a statement, or positioning themselves in the market, when they use environmentally friendly packaging. Usually it's by using paper, which has a lot less thermal properties than foam or plastic, and therefore burns your hands: but it speaks to a certain clientele. Then the customers will usually want a double cup, or a paper jacket, and since it's already twice the price of foam, it's only good if you're going upscale and charging accordingly. Although most foam products will have an 800 # on the carton telling you how to recycle (don't know about that); on the other hand, they more and more try to make it look like paper by putting cute designs on it. It's really a marketing vs. bottom line decision. Mon Mar 13 18:10:41 -0800 2006 1700520 0 coll 2 1700541 We're in the process of doing market research and have discovered that our clientele are not only pushing for organic/local/nitrate-free ingredients and environmentally-friendly packaging but are willing to pay extra for it. Our current endeavor does not allow for such (the vendor we sell to will not pay more for organic at the current time) but we're in the process of branching out a bit and would love to be able to be as health conscious with the business as we are at home:) Thanks for your input! Tue Mar 14 09:25:27 -0800 2006 1700529 0 SouperDora 1 1700538 my wife uses corn-based clam shell containers for her baked goods. like any such product, they have their share of ills, but, on the plus side, they are biodegradable. i know they will survive a hand washing as i occasionally take lunch in them and wash them for reuse (not in her business, just for my use). i also know they have temperature limitations; if i recall correctly, they cannot be heated over 120 degrees. you might look into this type of packaging for something that works for you. Tue Mar 14 07:11:43 -0800 2006 1700520 0 mark 2 1700542 Hi Mark, Do you know where your wife buys the containers from? Thanks! Tue Mar 14 09:25:58 -0800 2006 1700538 0 SouperDora 3 1700543 not off hand, but i'll check tonite & post back. Tue Mar 14 09:30:00 -0800 2006 1700542 0 mark 1 1700557 Glass - just take a deposit, so your customers will return the containers to you (something substantial enough to motivate that but insignificant enough not to repel anyone - say $1). If you give them microwavable plastic containers, your customers will most likely re-use them... I also read somewhere that aluminum is the only 100% recyclable material - but I guess it's not suitable for hot soups... Tue Mar 14 15:55:02 -0800 2006 1700520 0 welle 2 1700562 Hi Welle, I'd like to avoid aluminum if possible. Too many questions regarding its potential to leach carcinogens. As for the glass, that's a super idea although I'm hesitant for two reasons: it's a pain in the butt to carry out hot soup in glass and you can't freeze long term in glass. Although I suspect you couldn't freeze long term in environmentally-sound containers either. The other reason is that it's heavy and breakable. Tue Mar 14 17:24:41 -0800 2006 1700557 0 SouperDora 1 1700579 My friend just told me about the company linked below. Looks like they currently have a limited product line, but they do have some take out containers. Everything can be composted! Link: http://www.earthshell.com/foam.html Wed Mar 15 15:16:07 -0800 2006 1700520 0 nooodles