Due to start-and-stop lockdowns and over a year’s worth of disruptions to our supply chains, unfortunately, Toronto Pho is now encountering some trouble obtaining enough eco-friendly packaging supplies to provide meals to our customers.
Just a few months after making the switch to more sustainable packaging, Ontario was back under lockdown from the rise in COVID-19 infections. This has made obtaining certain supplies challenging, none of the more frustrating than that of trying to replenish our stock of paper packaging.
We are sending this message out to all of our customers. Toronto Pho is doing everything in its power to deal with these delays. We will soon run out of our new eco-friendly packaging. As everything is being pushed back and arrival dates re-scheduled, rest assured we have found a way forward.
Why Sustainable Packaging is Important to Us
For a long time, we have been taking steps to go more eco-friendly with our operations. It’s a commitment we made to ourselves to do better for our brand, our customers, and the environment.
Every restaurant will generate a certain amount of waste simply by being in existence. The increase in deliveries throughout the COVID-19 pandemic really got us to look at how much we were generating. Due to people not being able to come to our restaurant for a meal, this has meant increased use of packaging. Some waste cannot be avoided in the operation of a restaurant, however, packaging waste is one thing we know we can correct.
Toronto Pho continues to cut down on the waste we have to send to landfills. Food packaging waste like plastic and Styrofoam isn’t kind. At this point in our history, there are far better alternatives, predominantly paper-based. Paper and cardboard are eco-friendly. They biodegrade. They don’t have any toxins and are totally food-safe. As we see it, we don’t see any reason not to capitalize on available options for packaging in the paper, aluminum, and other recyclable materials in Toronto.
Paper is the type of packaging we have been using recently. Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned shortages in eco-friendly packaging and supply chain delays, an alternative’s been proposed.
While we wait for these delays to be sorted, Toronto Pho will be using brown box packaging sourced locally. Although this has meant a significant increase in cost, we thought it best to support the local economy while we await a resolution for our current predicament. By using brown box packaging, we will be able to continue to offer sustainable packaging with no interruption of service and no compromise on our commitment to being an eco-friendly restaurant.
Remaining A Sustainable Toronto Brand
Upholding the sort of standards we put on ourselves to be a sustainable Toronto brand has challenged us to adapt to pandemic-related delays. It has not been easy but we remain committed.
To this point, the current brown box packaging is not as dressed up with our signature art and branding as what we have been using. It is very basic but brown boxes do get the job done. Though it’s taken from our budget, even if this packaging is much more expensive, it’s the right move to make given the circumstances.
Some restaurants may entertain the use of Styrofoam in our position. After all, Styrofoam is a material readily available and cheaper. It would have made good business sense financially, however, for Toronto Pho we would not have felt right about it. Such a decision goes against our entire eco-friendly movement.
As hard as we try, one compromise has had to be made. Toronto Pho will be using a plastic container for any pho broth as we are unable to locate any high-quality eco-friendly paper containers large enough and sturdy enough to hold broth. This plastic, however, is still a much, much better alternative than toxic Styrofoam. It was either this or deliver less broth and risk containers falling apart in the delivery process.
Fortunately, we expect to see our regular Toronto Pho paper packaging return and be fully stocked by end of July.
TorontoPHO is doing what it has to in order to adapt to these circumstances and it is our commitment to remain a sustainable Toronto restaurant. Whether the city is on lockdown or not, there are always bowls of pho ready to be sent out at a moment’s notice. Just give us a call and put in your order. Delivery is on the way.
Toronto Pho offers the best pho, many classic Vietnamese dishes as well as plant-based alternatives for our vegan/vegetarian friends. Visit one of our 4 locations across Ontario today! Or order online for pickup or delivery through our easy to use app available for both Android and iPhone smart phones.
