It’s been a slow Catering Season transition into spring, but as the birds and flowers begin to reappear, as do the weddings and other spirited gatherings. We want to help you prepare by stocking the best of green catering packaging. At The Complete Package there are many options to suit every size and style of catered event.

The Square Bowl by Sabert comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, 8-64oz. and 80, 160 and 320oz. They’re visually attractive with a black base and clear lid, have an efficient design for stacking and space saving, and crack and crush resistant because when you’re transporting large, weighty orders, durability is important.

Fineline is one of the most visually impressive manufacturers of catering goods, and we’re excited to offer you a wide selection of their products for the most special of events. Take a look at Fineline‘s containers and see for yourself why they’re ideal for creative displays.

For an emphasis on catering green, the Ultra Green Compostable Catering Trays are a great choice. Made from 100% renewable natural resources, biodegradable tray, and 100% recyclable lid. The tray is strong and sturdy, won’t allow oil or liquid to soak through.

The Catering Box is a great new product we offer that comes in 2 sizes and is perfect for a variety of catering trays. Made to keep hot food hot and cold food cold, these boxes absorb minor spills and are ideal for both catering delivery and customer pick-up. They’re shipped to you flat to save space, and are easily assemble, stack nicely and is a versatile box for catering.

Fabri-Kal Greenware Square Grab and Go – These new compostable takeout containers by Fabrikal are fantastic! We have had many requests over the years for a container with 4 equal compartments and now there is one readily available! The other 2 containers are great, but the 4 compartment is the clear winner among meals with copious amounts of flavors that are not meant to run together! It’s perfect for separating finger foods from their dip, or portions of different sauces while keeping them safe from odor/flavor transfer. Like many of our products, this Grab and Go is made from 100% plant based materials and is compostable.

I have a lot of customers that ask me if a food packaging item is “compostable”.  Usually an item that is compostable is made out of PLA (such as Fabrikal’s Greenware cups).  PLA is also known as the plastic that is made out of corn.  While this is a more eco friendly option than an item made out of polystyrene or polypropylene (used mostly for microwaveable containers), it is not as environmentally friendly a package as an item made of recycled PET.  One issue about PLA is that it takes an incredible amount of fossil fuel based energy to farm and harvest the corn (which is usually a GMO corn).  Another issue that I find particularly disturbing about PLA based compostable products, is that these items are only compostable in a commercial composting facility!  The problem is that most food service operators do not sort their compostable packaging items, nor do they use a carting company that commercially composts.  Obviously, if you are a foodservice operator that uses Action Carting or another commercial composting carting company, then you are being very eco friendly using a compostable PLA item, or compostable food starch based cutlery.  The other issue with PLA products is what happens to these PLA products when they leave your store?  They end up in a public garbage bin.  When this happens, not only are these PLA items not composted, but they end up contaminating the recycling stream because most recycling facilities cannot differentiate between a PLA plastic item or a PET (think soda bottle plastic) item.  PET on the other hand is the most commonly and most easily recycled plastic.

Nowadays, many manufacturers use quite a bit of post consumer recycled content, in addition to post industrial content in producing their foodservice packaging items.  Most paper bags, paper shopping bags, napkins, some disposable food containers and a clear cup line are now made of post consumer recycled content.  Not only are these items already made of recycled content, but they can be easily recycled again and again, being reborn in different products and removing a lot of waste from entering a landfill.  It is also less energy intensive to recycle than to create a PLA based product.  One other advantage of recycled content options, is that there are many options for recycling products than there are commercial composting facilities.  Every home nowadays, has a recycling bin for example.  For these reasons, it is my belief that recycled content based disposable packaging is the better option if you want your food concept to be as eco friendly as possible.

Oh yeah – 1 last advantage of recycled content food packaging vs PLA plastic based packaging: it is usually much more affordable for you, the foodservice operator!

If you are interested in any additional information on making your food concept as eco friendly as possible, please contact me! My expertise is ECO FRIENDLY PACKAGING!

The ban is proposed to eliminate large-size sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages from the city’s restaurants, delis, sports arena vendors, movie theaters and food carts.
“The proposal would also keep restaurants from offering self-service cups bigger than 16-ounces and would impose a fine of as much as $200 per violation.”  Read More online at CBS News.

Why hide a sexy sandwich in a paper wrap? If you’ve got nothing to hide, show it off! Creative Carryout’s by Solo Foodservice has a diverse line of hinged, plastic on-the-go containers with a clear top to showcase culinary works of art, and a black base to make the fresh colors pop with appeal. Busy lunchers will quickly snatch these out of your cooler leaving you with a satisfying profit.

Christmas is coming up on us fast and it’s time to start stocking extra packaging in anticipation of a rise in catering orders. Due to the scorching summer and drought taking a toll on the nation’s crops, food prices are hitting consumers hard at the grocery store. The cost of holiday dinners ordered to-go is quickly becoming a cheaper alternative to a home cooked meal. When considering the additional cost of utilities, time and of course the already existent stress of the holidays, it’s fairly easy to tempt customers into the convenience of a hot and ready holiday menu.

Whatever holiday fare you serve, you’ll find the right size and shape containment in our catalog, with an emphasis on eco-friendly options. Consider packaging such as Innoware Expressions which are microwave safe so they may be reheated prior to serving and use 30% less plastic than the standard competing dish. Tie the whole meal together by bagging them in sturdy paper shopping bags which we can offer with your customized logo. Advertising your brand on a happy customer’s to-go order is a great way to show other potential customers how you can also set their holiday stress at ease. Be sure to review our holiday schedule in the “Mark the Date” section.

Holiday Catering Disposables Checklist:
–Serving Utensils
–Catering Trays & Dome Lids
–Catering Bowls
–Christmas/Holiday Cellophane
–Condiment/Sides Dishes/Bowls
-Tumblers, Wine Glasses, Champagne Flutes
-Sternos
-Water & Food Pans; Steamtables
-Holiday Napkins, Tablecovers, and Napkin Bands
–Plates & Heavy Duty Forks, Knives, Spoons; Available in Red & Green!
–Dessert, hors d’oeuvres dishes
–Cake & Pie Boxes; Pie Tins, Pastry Bake In Molds
-Delivery & Catering Boxes

There are exciting things happening in the world of couture take-out. What? You’ve never heard of “couture take-out” before? Okay, well, we just invented the term. There’s no other way to explain the high-fashion standards met by PackNWood’s sleek and sophisticated food packaging. Good looks aside, these to-go boxes are zen through and through. Made from sustainable materials such as wood, bamboo, palm leaf, sugar cane and cornstarch, they are also recyclable and biodegradable. Even the people of PackNWood hold themselves to high environmentally ethical standards and encourage the same from the businesses they consort with.

PackNWood has a size, style and shape to compliment and enhance every dish, much like the perfect frame to finish off a Van Gogh. Don’t be surprised if your customers refuse a bag because they’re eager to strut down the sidewalk with their new “couture take-out” in hand.  Contact me if you would like to learn more.