Material flows — institutional food service
Where does your packaging cost actually go?
Every tray you buy has two prices: the one on the invoice, and the one that comes back later — as waste fees, emissions and reporting exposure. Here is the full route, mapped.
The linear model
In the linear chain, a tray is used for twenty minutes and paid for three times: by the caterer at purchase, by the institution in handling, and by the municipality in collection and incineration. Nothing returns. The cost simply changes owners.
The closed loop with certified compostable packaging
With certified compostable packaging, the tray leaves the meal service in the same bin as the food scraps — no sorting labour, no contamination risk — and re-enters the local economy as compost. The loop closes where the meal was served.
One bin, less labour
Tray, lid and leftovers go together. No separation step at the point of highest staff load.
Lower EPR exposure
Under PPWR eco-modulation, hard-to-recycle packaging pays more. Compostable cellulose is exempt from recycled-plastic content requirements.
A carbon line you can report
−66% carbon footprint vs. polypropylene, LCA-verified. Numbers your ESG report can actually use.
See the loop with your own volumes.
A 30-minute consultation maps your current material flow and what a closed loop would cost — and save — at your scale.
Book a consultation