Our reporter Qu Xinyue, our newspaper intern Wang Yu
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With the increasingly fierce competition in the take-out market and consumers' high attention to food safety and hygiene, “exquisite” packaging of take-out meals has become a trend.
However, many consumers questioned the tendency of food delivery to over-package.
Some shopkeepers said that packaging has become the facade of the brand, and has even become the focus of marketing, showing a personality and attitude.
Industry insiders say bluntly: In terms of packaging alone, over-precision packaging is of little significance to food safety.
With the increasingly fierce competition in the take-out market and consumers' high attention to food safety and hygiene, “exquisite” packaging of take-out meals has become a trend.
However, many consumers questioned the tendency of food delivery to over-package.
So, how to reduce excessive packaging while ensuring food safety?
Receiving food is like opening a gift box
"I just ordered a casserole meal, and I didn't expect to receive a pot." Mr. Fan, who works in Chaoyang District, Beijing, told reporters that some takeaways have now developed to the extent of buying one, getting one free.
For example, for some stewed foods, merchants will directly give away crock pots.
"It's a pity to leave these things useless, and it's a pity to discard them. They are also compulsory shopping in disguise. After all, the wool is on the sheep.
In recent years, our foreign sales industry has developed vigorously and its volume has increased sharply.
According to "China Catering Big Data 2020", the food delivery market growth rate reached 43.9% in 2019.
Especially after the outbreak of the epidemic, many catering brands that used to be off-line have begun to pay more attention to takeaway.
And as consumers are more and more willing to pay for high-quality products, takeaway merchants have also entered the stage of competing for user experience, and the packaging of takeaway has become more and more refined.
"Some takeaways do need to be packaged more delicately." Ms. Chen, who works in insurance in Shanghai, often orders takeaways. A few days ago, she ordered a piece of smashed noodles, and the merchants packaged soup, braised and noodles separately.
"This way the noodles are not easy to lumpy, and they taste good." Ms. Chen said, "A well-sealed package will also make people feel sanitary and relieved."
After the outbreak, the safety of take-out food was put in a more important position by consumers.
Many restaurants are implementing four-layer protection for food boxes to be covered with plastic wrap, and then the paper boxes are isolated and sealed to ensure the safety of meals.
However, some consumers said that some takeaway packaging is too complicated and not environmentally friendly.
The reporter's investigation found that some take-away packaging separates the food and the meal in different boxes. When ordering a set meal, consumers will even receive four or five small plastic boxes.
Some businesses not only design the outer packaging like a high-end gift paper bag, but also a nice cardboard box inside, and there is a layer of insulation bag inside the box.
“Receiving food delivery feels like opening a gift box, layer after layer.” Ms. Chao, who works in Beijing, believes that it is possible to reduce the amount of sub-packaging and some flashy outer packaging.
The packaging is a safety shield and a brand facade
"The epidemic has not passed yet. To make customers feel relieved, they must pack them carefully. Staples and plastic wrap are all necessary. Don't worry if you don't pack them in layers." Mr. Li, owner of a breakfast shop in a supermarket in Songjiazhuang, Beijing, told reporters Say.
After the outbreak, the proportion of “take-away” in consumers’ dietary and consumption habits has risen sharply.
Many businesses said that in order to avoid spilling soup, being stolen, and adding "materials" during transportation, they will put a lot of effort into take-out packaging.
“The customer found that the soup was half spilled or the packaging was broken when they got the takeaway. It must be a bad experience. There are too many negative reviews, and our store’s business is not easy to do.” An owner of a rice noodle delivery store in Beijing told reporters.
With the gradual maturity of the food delivery industry, some stores also said that the evaluation criteria for food delivery packaging has changed from “not spreading” and “heat preservation” to “atmosphere and caring enough”. Packaging has become the brand's appearance, even Become the focus of various marketing, showing a kind of personality and attitude.
The reporter noticed that in addition to the beautifully designed and recognizable paper bags, some stores also included handwritten post-it notes and small gifts in the takeaway.
In order to better show consumers that the food is safe, a love card will be affixed on the lunch box to indicate the temperature of the production staff and the delivery staff.
"The packaging is not only the meal, but also our service attitude." A staff member of a chain restaurant in Beijing told reporters that the packaging is also highlighting the characteristics of the store. Consumers have a better dining experience and good reputation can also exchange orders.
“Each order is getting bigger and bigger and heavier.” Said Master Huang, a Meituan rider who delivers food near Fangzhuang, Beijing. Now the platform intermediary is not responsible for the packaging business. It is the merchants who solve it themselves, and the specific materials used vary. .
According to statistics, the packaging materials currently on the market are mainly divided into the following categories: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene plastic (PS).
Among them, polypropylene plastic accounts for more than half, and the amount is the largest. This is mainly because this material is not only resistant to high temperatures, does not produce toxins, and has a lower cost.
The degradable plastic lunch boxes are often discouraged by businesses due to high costs.
The production process is more important to food safety
"At present, the country and industry do not have specific standards for take-out packaging, but in principle, food safety should be the first, and environmental protection requirements should be the key consideration." said Zhu Danpeng, an analyst in the Chinese food industry.
In recent years, the issue of plastic pollution in food delivery has received much attention, and relevant policies have been issued from local to national levels.
On November 10, the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission and other departments issued the "Beijing Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2020-2025) (Draft for Comment)."
Among them, it is mentioned that six key industries such as catering and takeaway platforms should be strengthened to reduce plastics. For example, takeaway platforms are encouraged to increase publicity and establish a good image of actively using biodegradable lunch boxes and reusable lunch boxes (tools), and Through the issuance of platforms "exclusive green coupons" and other measures to guide consumers to choose options such as "no cutlery".
Some insiders also pointed out that the layered packaging of takeaway does not necessarily mean clean and hygienic. In the context of normalized epidemic prevention, the implementation of sanitary and safety standards requires strict inspections in all aspects of catering production and transportation.
Ele.me senior food safety expert Miao Hong believes that the production process of the food itself is more important to food safety.
As long as the lunch box meets the food safety standards, there is generally no problem, and the selection of packaging materials is often prone to safety risks.
"For example, colored lunch boxes that do not meet the decolorization test standards, or some paper packaging boxes that do not meet the fluorescent substance standards, may affect food safety." Miao Hong said.
"What we want to prevent is artificial and malicious third parties other than merchants and diners who can move meals at will." Miao Hong believes that as far as packaging is concerned, excessively sophisticated packaging is of little significance to food safety.