Just Eat expands trial of seaweed-coated takeaway boxes

31-Mar-2021 - Last updated on 16-Apr-2021 at 13:12 GMT

Just Eat is expanding its trial of using seaweed-coated takeaway boxes in a move that it expects to stop 30,000 plastic coated boxes from entering the waste stream.

The delivery company is testing Notpla’s seaweed-coated box with 11 restaurant partners across the UK following a short trial with three London takeaways last year. The box is fully recyclable and can decompose in four weeks in a home compost.

The boxes are lined with a seaweed and plant composite, the cardboard container is made from tree and grass pulp with no synthetic additives. It has been designed to be water-resistant and greaseproof, so customers can still enjoy their takeaway sustainably.

It is estimated that half a billion plastic takeaway boxes are used across the UK takeaway industry each year, and even if these plastic boxes get reused multiple times, they often end up in landfill.

Just Eat is now testing Notpla’s seaweed-coated box with ten restaurant partners across the UK. The three-week trial is expected to stop 30,000 plastic boxes from entering the waste stream.

Restaurants involved in the trail are Firehouse Grill in Coatbridge; Freddy’s Chicken & Pizza in Liverpool; Hatleys restaurant in Alloa; Sophies Gourmet Burgers in Birmingham; Pickle Rick’s Pizza in Hazel Grove; Mario Pizza in Manchester; Wok On in Liverpool; Mr Chef Uddingston in Uddingston; Ruchita Tandoori restaurant in Wallsend; Mancini’s Street Food in Newmains; and Shakes & Bakes by Sweet Diner in Hyde.

Just Eat and Notpla have also piloted the use of seaweed-based sauce sachets with a variety of restaurants. So far, the trials have stopped more 46,000 plastic sachets from entering customer homes, according to Notpla. Just Eat has also increased the number of electric vehicles in use in food delivery to reduce its carbon footprint.

“Now, more than ever, is the time to adopt sustainable packaging solutions that don’t deceive consumers. Unlike any other solution on the market, the Notpla coating is free from any synthetic chemical. Instead we use seaweed, a material proof-tested by nature for 100 million years. No more plastic, no micro plastics, no ‘forever chemicals’,” says Pierre Paslier, co-founder and co-CEO of Notpla.

The trial will assess the feasibility of rolling out the box more broadly to Just Eat restaurant partners across its other markets.