Caulibox: reusable food bowls and pizza boxes 

CauliBox is a local company that makes reusable food containerss for shops, founded by two London foodies, to help prevent disposable takeway containers in restaurants and shops. This works a little differently to the reusable bowls above.

Instead, customers use an app to find a location. Cauliboxes are then free to loan, as long as they are returned within seven days. They are leakproof and odour-proof with sealed lids, and are stackable for dishwashers. And can be recycled after around 400 uses.

Users also automatically earn CauliCoins through their app or account, to redeem for free food and drinks at partner locations. Some towns have CauliKiosks (pop bowls back after lunch). There are also CauliCups and Cauli Pizza Boxes!

Already CauliBoxes are used by over 10,000 people so why not join them? The company can supply to any food-service business. Users report savings of between £4K to £10K per year.

Green Box reusable takeout bowls

Green Box reusable bowls are made from bio-polymers and suitable for hot or cold foods, sold in bulk. The 650ml size is ideal for salads, pasta, curries or ‘Buddha bowls’ with secure matching lids. You could also sell these in zero waste shops for people to portion nuts and granola.

Designed to stack to save space, the bowls can be used many times before recycling. The same company makes  reusable wine glasses!

Why choose reusable cups and bowls?

If you run a small sandwich bar or café, it’s not only good for the planet to switch to reusable containers for frequent customers. But it will also save money, for better profits. For passing customers, there are also better options than plastic food wrap and sandwich bags.

Typically these schemes work on a deposit basis. People pay a pound or more to rent the item, then return it either to the eaterie or ‘reverse vending machines’ (working a bit like deposit return schemes which England does not yet have,).

Research has shown that nearly 100% of customers like this idea, so you can also market that you’re offering this service, which attracts more custom.

Clingfilm is awful stuff, one of the few plastics that is mostly not recycled at supermarket bag bins (it’s the ‘film you can’t recycle’ on top of ready meals and ice-cream tubs). And since removing PVC, it doesn’t even stick properly. Manufacture causes ‘nurdles’ which look like fish food when it ends up in the sea.