If each one of us used our own dabbas from home the next time we wanted to take away food from an outlet, the volume of garbage on our streets may just come down significantly. “The maximum plastic is used in the packing department,” says Vivek Srinivasan of Annapoorna.
The popular chain wants to replace plastic covers with woven bags. But it is not that simple. “If we go in for quality containers, the cost will go up,” he says.
Like Annapoorna, Anandhaas is also eco conscious. “We pack idlis and sandwiches in cardboard cartons, but it will be fantastic if our customers bring their own containers for takeaways. We would be happy to pack the food in them. In fact we have tiffin carriers and dabbas of various sizes. If there is a bulk take-away order, we pack it in our dabbas and tell the customers to return the containers whenever they can,” says Anandhaas’ S. Sathesh.
If customers co-operated, they could do a lot more. “If people bring their own containers we will waive the packing charge. Some banks and Corporate offices already do that. We send the food for our regular fixed-meal plan clients, in our own containers. About 25 per cent of our parcels go out in people’s own containers,” says Vivek.
“We have done away with plastic disposables for outdoor catering. Only spoons are the problem, and we are searching for alternatives,” he adds. Some Annapoorna outlets use leaf packaging that is half the cost of plastic. “It is available only in the Govt Arts College and Ramakrishna Hospital branches, because clients there seek cost effective packaging,” he says.
Anandhaas’ minimises use of non-biodegradable materials in its kitchens. “Our staple provisions come in jute bags. But, the problem is, some of the branded masalas we buy are available only in small packets. That should change,” says Sathesh.
Plastic-flavoured coffee
Customers asking for coffee to be parcelled in plastic bags has stumped Anandhaas and Annapoorna. Sathesh has given strict instructions to his staff to politely refuse parcelling order for coffee. Vivek too. “It is so unhealthy. And the plastic neither retains the heat nor the flavour,” he adds. Why can’t we go back to milk bottles like the good old days, wonders Vivek. “So many milk sachets are dumped every day,” he says.
When asked about his opinion about excessive plastic packaging, M. Krishnan of Krishna Sweets declares, “It’s impossible to get rid of plastic completely in packaging. The trouble is not with the material, but in how we handle it. There is no other cost-effective alternative packaging now. We are happy to serve clients who bring their own dabbas for the sweets, but how many will actually do that? We need discipline in the system, we must implement rules,” he says. It is also about hygiene, he believes. “Sealed packets somehow inspire trust.”
Ranjana Singhal of That’s Y Food says she too would gladly pack food for customers in their dabbas. But till such time they do that, she is trying to reduce wasteful practices in her two restaurants. “We have saved nearly Rs 15,000 in electricity bills in two months. Initially, we would switch on all the air conditioners in the restaurant. Now we put them on one room at a time. Only after one room is filled up, do we open the others. Of course, we couldn’t have done this without obliging customers.”
She is also trying to restrict wastage of water. She provides each table in her restaurant with a bottle of water. “People can pour out the water they want. Otherwise, when the meal is over the glasses invariably have left over water and that is just thrown out”.
But, asks Ranjana, “Before we talk of recycling and reusing, can we consider ‘refusing’?”
