Helping Foodservice Businesses Enhance Front-of-House Presence
while Improving their Operations, Brand, and Profits

We recently noticed that our customers have been more interested in 1/2 and 1/3 size food pans for their chafing dishes than the typical hotel pans they usually request. This shift in demand got us curious about what's going on in the catering industry, so we asked around.

There are some smart caterers out there! They've figure out how a very simple technique can significantly reduce food waste and keep more money in their pockets. It was a really great tip for us, so we're here to share it with you.  

Almost every kind of foodservice you can imagine provides some form of to-go service built into their business model. Out of those businesses, most of them offer this service via disposable takeout food containers often made of Styrofoam™ (less formally known as polystyrene). It’s convenient for operators and diners alike, but it’s not necessarily the greenest option, to say the least.

You may be ready to switch to a more Earth-friendly material because it’s a personal passion, you want to position your brand as eco-friendly, or you’re complying with a local government initiative. Whatever your reason, we’re going to explore a few eco-friendly food takeout options that you may want to consider using in place of Styrofoam™ for your foodservice operation. We’ll also take a look at some common processes for eco-friendly waste disposal of these items.

Offering takeaway meals at colleges, universities, businesses, and industrial sites is a familiar practice because being able to eat on the go is an attractive option for busy students and professionals alike. However, disposable to-go food containers commonly used for carryout meals can create a lot of unnecessary waste and cost for your foodservice operation.

Eco-Takeouts® are the original reusable to-go food containers introduced by G.E.T. They’re an excellent, environmentally friendly alternative to disposable takeaway food containers. Not only do they exponentially cut down on the amount of waste created by disposable to-go containers, they check several other boxes as well: 

Reusable and disposable dinnerware are both popular choices for foodservice operations. Some operators opt for using disposables because they’re fast, easy to clean up, and seem more economical. Others choose to go with reusable dinnerware because it is more sustainable and can greatly improve the perception of their brand and the accompanying menu.

In a recent study, consumers were asked what they would like to eat their food on when dining out. They responded that they did not want to eat on paper/Styrofoam™, and they did want their plates to be clean and not chipped or cracked.

Here at G.E.T., we've heard from many foodservice operators wondering what the cost difference between, and benefits of these two options might look like. We're going to dig in to how product and operational costs compare between reusable and disposable dinnerware so you can see which choice is best for you. 

Because every operation is unique, from labor costs to rent and beyond, we're taking a broad approach to our calculations. We want to give operators guiding hypothetical calculations upon which they can build a snapshot of the cost difference between disposables and reusables that reflects their specific operational needs. 

Roughly a decade ago, G.E.T. pioneered the Eco-Takeouts® line of reusable to-go containers. For the first time, this method of meal takeaway offered a reusable feature, as opposed to disposable to-go boxes, to college, university, and business and industry foodservice operators. 

Ever since, it’s been an attractive to-go dining program for secondary education foodservice facilities because Eco-Takeouts® are more cost-effective, sustainable, and operationally friendlier than disposable polystyrene takeout containers.

If you’re curious about what it would cost to implement an Eco-Takeouts® reusable program at your college or university, we’ve got you covered. We’re going to give you an overview of costs, along with some best practices, to help you gain an understanding of what an initial investment in an Eco-Takeouts® to-go program might look like for your school’s dining facilities in the 2017-2018 school year. 

A little less than a decade ago, G.E.T. introduced an innovative line of reusable to-go containers, Eco-Takeouts®. Since then, plenty of colleges and universities around the country have found value in implementing an Eco-Takeouts® reusable program on their campuses because of the cost savings, reduced waste, and environmental friendliness over using disposable to-go containers. 

Secondary schools may find value in customization because it’s a great way to show school pride, act as a walking billboard for your school’s brand, and reinforce your Eco-Takeouts® program. Even better, you may be surprised by how many options you have, how affordable it can be, and how quickly some customization can be produced at G.E.T.

You can add a custom logo, design, or color to any Eco-Takeouts® container. G.E.T. will even partner with you to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Let’s break down the options, costs, and turnaround times of different customization applications so that you have everything you need to create a successful program.