NOVEMBER 20248A BRIEF HISTORY OF CARRY-OUT FOOD PACKAGINGBY TODD JONGEN, DIRECTOR NON-FOODS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PACKAGING SCIENCE, US FOODSCarry-out packaging can be traced back over 100 years in American history. Early examples came from city lunch carts serving frankfurters and urban establishments serving sandwiches, hot dogs, and the still popular Chinese carry-out. Things have come a long way in 100 years, but most notably, the face of this industry has changed significantly in the past 5 to 10 years, and the rate of innovation in this space continues to increase. Like the iconic "paper pail," most commonly used for Chinese food, Carry-out packaging dates back to the late 1800s when it was invented by Fredric Weeks Wilcox. Packaging in those times was limited mainly by the available materials. Paper containers and wax-coated paper wraps were most common in the early days. Aluminum carry-out packaging came on the scene next, and finally, plastic packaging like polystyrene foam, Polyethylene, and various plastic wraps and containers began to take share in the food service market. Single-use plastics have remained very popular for food service carry-out because they are inexpensive, versatile, and can provide properties like insulation to keep carry-out food warm or cold. While plastics are extremely versatile and functional materials, they can remain in the environment for many years once they have served their purpose and are discarded. Knowing this, the industry is now increasingly participating in a global movement to effectively reduce the usage of plastics for "single-use" applications such as for foodservice disposable products. At US Foods®, for instance, we are listening to our customers and other stakeholders' desires to have more sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics as the food service industry continues to embrace carry-out and food delivery programs. One of the most influential key drivers of this movement is customer demand. According to a Technomic report, 70 percent of food service operators confirm sustainability is currently a priority for their organization, and according to a Datassential report, 46 percent of Gen Z says eco-friendly packaging is important to their purchasing decisions when it comes to delivery or takeout from a restaurant. This opportunity has driven the industry to bring forward more sustainable alternatives to plastic IN MY OPINIONTodd Jongen
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