Look, I know life’s hectic. We all love the convenience of grabbing a quick meal from Grab or Foodpanda. But can we at least try to do something about this single-use packaging waste that’s our problem too? That little plastic bag your khao man gai came in? It’s not just going to magically disappear. No, it’s going to end up in the Gulf of Thailand, in the belly of a dolphin, or stuck to the side of a fish that you’ll probably end up eating.

We’re drowning in waste, and while it’s easy to blame someone else—maybe the government, or big food chains—we are the ones ordering delivery every day (this author included). We are the ones putting in a quick order for Pepsi on Line Man because we’re too lazy to get off our 21st-century fat arse and go downstairs to 7-Eleven.

Look at the amount of plastic that comes with a simple breakfast order—plastic bags, plastic cutlery, plastic straws, plastic sauce containers, and yes, another plastic bag to hold all the plastic. It’s a plastic Matryoshka doll. When you’re eating at home, the plastic has a longer shelf life than the food – by approximately 1,000 years (one-thousand).

Do you remember when street food used to come in banana leaves? 

Probably not if you’re under 50. But now they package the sticky rice in a plastic bag inside the leaf, to stop the sauce from making the rice soggy. Even your iced coffee comes in a plastic cup that you can carry in a plastic bag. Want to take away some sushi? That’ll come with enough plastic bags to leave a room full of sado-masochists gasping for air at a kink party.

Listen, you just don’t need throw-away cutlery and a straw — You’re an adult! That’s right, grown-ups don’t need disposable plastic forks with their meals… unless you live in the psychiatric ward of the Bangkok Hilton, perhaps. If you’re ordering delivery to your home, the chances are you’ve got a drawer full of utensils already. And if you don’t, maybe that’s a bigger issue you need to contemplate while sitting on crates next to a stack of old pizza boxes while the light flickers overhead. 

Of course, it’s a complex issue. But there is a solution. It’s the same mantra we’ve been hearing for years already. You know the phrase: Sing it with me: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. In Thailand, we obviously need to understand that mantra better – as businesses and consumers – and how it applies to each phase of the food delivery cycle if we want to make a dent in the massive waste problem.

Doesn’t Sustainability Mean Inferior Quality?

In short: NO. Restaurants just need to shop around like we did for the good stuff. 

So many cafes in Bangkok are concerned about spillage when they courier your coffee that they place a plastic seal over your plastic-infused cardboard coffee cup. They fit it with a plastic lid and then fasten it with plastic sellotape. And still that coffee somehow seeps its way out into your paper bag.

What can businesses do about it? How about procuring a better container like we’ve done? Crunch Your Meals delivers delicious bone broths in 100% cardboard cups with a lid that fits. Woah! What the fuck did he just say?— Yeah, our lids fit tight. And, we haven’t received a single reported spillage from any of our customers.

Why Sustainable Packaging Matters… To Your Health

While ordering delivery means the use of more materials than eating at a restaurant – our customers can enjoy their food knowing that the packaging it comes in won’t harm the environment, or your own body. 

Many restaurants serve their sauces in petroleum-based plastic containers. They serve hot soups in soft plastic bags. Will somebody think of the carcinogens?!! 

The plastic we use is 100% biodegradable and breaks down into a wax. We believe that by reducing the use of harmful materials and embracing innovative alternatives, we can help reduce the environmental impact and maintain the quality of every meal delivery, with no micro plastics mixing in with your hot liquids.

Our Commitment to Sustainability: More Than Just Packaging

When we decided to launch Crunch Your Meals, we knew we had to do better than relying on harmful plastics and single-use packaging. Our mission was to find packaging that reflected our values – eco-friendly and practical – and manage our operations in a sustainable way. 

Reducing food waste 

• It starts with the ordering system. Our customers order in bulk, at least two days in advance. 
• We offer three meal sizes for every dish, so we can plan every meal, every measurement, and minimise food waste – Yep… food waste has a massive environmental impact too.
• It also means we can keep costs and prices low. Great for us and great for you.

Reducing emissions 

• We source ingredients from local farms and suppliers, which reduces our carbon footprint and supports the community. We plan to invest in eco-friendly electric or hybrid delivery to reduce emissions. The only products we import are beef and salmon that meet the high standards of our Head Chef.

Eco-friendly packaging that can be reused or recycled 

Our packaging is stylish, sleek and minimalist. It doesn’t scream ‘tree hugger’. Rather, it just quietly, modestly whispers ‘practical’. It’s a smart design that does way less damage to the environment.

• Biodegradable plastics for our food cartons.
• Bone broth in 100% cardboard cups with cardboard lids
• Burritos wrapped in greaseproof paper with elastic bands
• We stamp our logo on brown paper bags and minimise the use of stickers (which contain plastic) so that we do less harm.
• We don’t provide disposable cutlery.
• We use minimal packaging, from the food containers, to the carriers, right down to the labels and even the ink for printing.

Actions we can all take

As the world battles a plastic pollution crisis, our demand for convenient meals delivered to our door increases. And the stuff we use once, toss out and forget, ends up floating down the Mekong or on a beach in Phuket. Thailand produces millions of tonnes of plastic waste every year, and we’re one of the world’s top contributors. We’re basically VIPs at the plastic pollution party. And no, your app’s default setting of ‘no cutlery’ isn’t getting us off the guest list. 

For consumers

1. Opt out of disposable utensils and napkins. 
2. Order from restaurants who use eco-friendly packaging. If you receive your food wrapped in a Matryoshka doll of plastic, give the restaurant a low rating and leave a comment. 
3. Buy meal bundles, which will help to reduce packaging and transportation emissions.
4. If you have the time, go to the restaurant instead.
5. Take your own bags to the shops and feel like a martyr as you turn down the plastic bag offered by the cashier.

For restaurants

1. Use sustainable packaging: Switch to biodegradable, compostable or easily recyclable containers and bags for takeout orders.
2. Tell your kitchens to stop including plastic spoons, straws and chopsticks. Only include them when customers specifically request it. It’ll save you some money too.  
3. Offer different portion sizes to reduce food waste, or provide options for smaller portions at reduced prices.

Five things delivery apps can do 

1. Promote sustainable packaging: Encourage or mandate the use of biodegradable, compostable, or reusable packaging materials by partnering with eco-friendly suppliers. Incentivise restaurants that adopt these practices.
2. Rate restaurants for sustainability: Award stars so customers know which eateries offer sustainable packaging. Offer incentives or better visibility for restaurants that adopt eco-friendly practices.
3. Reusable container programme: Partner with restaurants, where customers can opt for reusable containers that are picked up during the next delivery, cleaned and reused.
4. Promote eco-friendly delivery: Give customers an option to choose. Prioritise and incentivise delivery drivers who use low-emission vehicles. Invest in charging infrastructure to support the transition to electric vehicles. Offer rewards or discounts for customers who select these options.
5. ‘No cutlery’ option by default: And if restaurants fail to adhere to this, give customers an option to report them.