Solving the issue of finding more sustainable methods to serve food and beverages at large events such as sports games and concerts, a range of reusable cups and food-to-go containers have been launched to provide a hygienic and cost-effective solution aimed at eliminating single-use products.
Event Cup Solutions (ECS) has launched an industry first hire range for hospitality services that includes reusable coffee cups, beer, wine and champagne cups, which are all manufactured in the UK, and a range of food trays and boxes, as well as pasta pots. The products are delivered, nationwide, in hygienically sealed tote boxes, by its own fleet of vehicles, from one of its four state-of-the-art wash facilities, traveling the shortest distances possible.
All of the reusable cups and food-to-go packaging can be washed more than 500 times and are recyclable at their end of life. Ideal for venues, events and festivals, ECS’ rental solution is also suitable for any hospitality and foodservice business looking to move away from single-use plastics.
John Reeves, director of Event Cup Solutions, says that “Even though the hospitality and events sector is currently braced in lockdown we believe that, once the restrictions are lifted and it becomes safe to operate once again, the demand for more sustainable and hygienic food and beverage packaging solutions will be even greater.”
“Our product range also offers hospitality providers an opportunity to turn a cost into a brand new revenue stream. We know that consumers are willing to accept a small levy on reusable drinks cups and food-to-go boxes knowing that these products will be washed and used many times over, thereby reducing the use of single-use products. For foodservice and hospitality businesses, this levy will completely offset the cost of the service, making it both environmentally and economically compelling”, adds John.
The numbers of single-use food and beverage packaging used in the UK each year is staggering: 1.5 billion cold cups, five billion hot cups and two billion food boxes. Continuation of this is, quite simply, unsustainable, particularly as there are legally binding consumption reduction targets for single-use plastics (SUPs) in the pipeline. This will be accelerated by the implementation into UK law of the EU Directive on SUPs. Additionally, the Government’s consultations on Extended Producer Responsibility and the ‘Plastics Tax’ will result in significant cost increases on single use items which makes the switch to a sustainable reusable solution even more compelling.
