Takeaway food means we can take advantage of our favourite cuisines from our favourite restaurants in the comfort of our own homes. It’s convenient and quick – saving you time when you don’t have anything in the cupboards after a long day at work. But have you ever stopped to think of the impact your takeaway may be having on the environment? There are a few factors to consider helping you weigh up the impact your favourite restaurant may be having on the planet, from how your food is sourced and the method you choose to have it delivered! Read on for 3 factors you should consider when treating yourself to a takeaway.
Impact on the environment
One of the main elements you’ll find with takeaway food is the containers used to carry it home, whether that’s a pizza box, a disposable food tray, or plastic cartons – they’re all left over at the end of the meal, and most of us will simply get rid of them. This causes an issue. It contributes to waste that ends up in landfill, which as a result can end up destroying habitats and interrupting the food chain. Food packing can have a major impact on the planet, but thankfully more takeaway vendors are making a change for the better, so you can enjoy your takeaway with the peace of mind that you’re helping the planet!
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How the food is sourced
When weighing up the environmental factors of a takeaway, one of the first things you should think about is how the food is sourced. If you’re trying to be more environmentally friendly, but you don’t want to miss out on your favourite foods, think about what you’re ordering. Dishes that contain a lot of meat will have produced harmful gases into the environment, so reducing your meat intake means decreasing the demand. Where the food has come from before it gets to your takeaway is also important, has it travelled cross country, racking up the miles and emissions? It can be difficult to find out where your takeaway has come from but choosing a more sustainable meal that is mostly plant-based means you can have peace of mind that you are helping to reduce demand when it comes to meat consumption and the issues that the planet faces because of that.
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Takeaway packaging
The packaging that your takeaway comes in plays a huge role environmentally. Takeaway food packaging is more likely to be discarded incorrectly because it’s eaten on the go. This is why many takeaways are making the change to more sustainable materials like paper and cardboard. Think about the materials your takeaway comes in – are they recyclable and reusable? If so, make sure that you dispose of them correctly, to reduce waste ending up in landfill sites. Of course, if you have a favourite takeaway, the packaging that they use is unlikely to put you off ordering, but if you’re trying to reduce waste and become more sustainable, keep the materials they use in mind to get an idea of how eco-friendly they really are.
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How it’s delivered
When you order a takeaway, you might prefer to have it delivered to your house, for ease and convenience, but if you’re making changes to benefit the planet, this may not be the best option. Realistically, your delivery driver should carry a few orders at a time so he can make the most of one trip – however, this may not be the case. If you’re keen to reduce your carbon footprint, walk or cycle to the restaurant to pick up your food to reduce fuel emissions and get a bit of fresh air and exercise!
