Toronto PHO is always looking at ways to go green. Recently we dropped our new sustainable packaging that included beautifully designed, paper bowls, cups, boxes, and bags. The more eco-friendly we are, the less environmental impact we and our customers have to worry about whenever they order their favorite dish from Toronto Pho.
The rise in takeout orders in Toronto has challenged us to do better with our takeout packaging.
Why Wood Is A Perfect Takeout Cutlery And Utensil Alternative.
Since the beginning of this pandemic, Toronto has been producing massive amounts of takeout daily. The truth is, there is no way around it, as takeout containers are needed. Unfortunately, most restaurants are still using non-biodegradable materials.
As we can’t avoid the need for takeout, switching to wood and paper-based materials gets us out of a sticky situation. Sustainable packaging means there is a way to do eco-friendly takeout, providing everything customers need to enjoy their meals without creating unnecessary landfill waste. This is how we are doing our part.
The pros of switching to wood:
- Wood is non-toxic and does not create the same sort of pollution plastic or styrofoam does.
- Wood takes less energy to produce than aluminum or plastic.
- Wood can be recycled and reused, with the wood pulp filtered into the production of paper as well.
- Wood is biodegradable.
- Unlike plastic which has to undergo a lot of processing and manufacturing to create itself, wood comes from a renewable source. It is a material that can be generated again, again, and again.
Going Green by August 2021 One Toronto Takeout Order At A Time!
Some might be surprised at the amount of waste the average Toronto restaurant generates. Hundreds of takeout orders a week. Food products coming in and going out. A by-product of feeding the masses the best Vietnamese food is also creating waste. With our dining rooms closed and our options limited, we had to put our thinking caps on.
The big question for us this past year was if we cannot minimize the waste we create, is it possible to somehow make it greener – as it turns out, there are many ways. We’ve already switched to more eco-friendly packaging elsewhere and now we’ve implemented biodegradable wooden cutlery and utensils.
By August 2021 every time you order takeout from Toronto PHO and request cutlery or utensils, you’ll receive a sustainable pack of utensils made from wood products. We are doing our part by making sure that no longer will our cutlery and utensils end up in Ontario landfills.
Instead, our cutlery and utensils will now biodegrade upon waste disposal. These wood and paper-based materials will be absorbed back into the natural environment without any harm done and without any toxins released. We find a lot of peace in knowing that.
Why We Couldn’t Wait To Be A More Sustainable Toronto Brand Even During A Pandemic.
The pandemic has not been the easiest time for restaurants. Lockdowns and shutdowns and constant changes in restrictions have made operating in the food industry super difficult. It was not the most financially secure time for us to decide on such a huge transformation with our packaging. To the outside world (and even to us) it seemed like a crazy idea when we found out the cost of eliminating plastic and Styrofoam was 3 times more than we anticipated. Even with this new financial reality, we still believed our switch was necessary and that it was crazier to knowingly contribute to our city’s waste. Could you imagine how much plastic waste we’d be guilty of contributing at the end of the year? Welp, We could. And that’s when the little voice whispered “Do your part now before it’s too late”.
And we’re still learning. We will never claim to be perfect. We’re still evaluating our operations to see where we can cut waste. Saving the planet requires each of us to do our part and as a restaurant, we have a sizeable footprint.
We have to admit that despite the challenges we have faced we are super lucky that we have so many great suppliers, partners, and customers open to change. The support has been amazing. Every little bit helps and we truly believe that now is our opportunity to make a difference, reduce our landfill waste, and move to a more eco-friendly way of doing things together.
Toronto PHO wants to be a part of a sustainable Toronto going forward. It’s very important to us and we want it a part of our legacy. Join us. Order from Toronto PHO today to see first-hand the changes we are making.
Toronto Pho is a family-owned restaurant serving the best pho and late night eats. Search for Best Pho near me , you will find one of our 4 locations across Ontario, we offer fast delivery and online ordering for pickup or delivery through our easy to use app available for both Android and iPhone smart phones.
