— Contributed by Amy Brown

I manage a green pop-up vegan burger business, and it has been a goal for my staff and me to lessen our plastic waste and carbon footprints. That is why I make sure to only use recyclable and compostable containers for take-out orders.

When the pandemic happened, we shifted from a pop-up business to an exclusive food delivery service. That meant stocking up on more biodegradable hinged containers. Lucky for us, the business continued to thrive even amidst a health crisis.

My supplier, Restaurant Smart, sells my favorite brand of compostable hinged containers — Bagasse, and they accept bulk orders. These containers are made from the leftover fibers from sugarcane’s extraction process, making them a safe and all-natural alternative to the traditional plastic and foam containers. Aside from being natural and biodegradable, Bagasse hinged containers are also microwave-safe and can withstand up to 212֯ F, without emitting any toxic fumes.

What I love about Bagasse is that even if the containers are compostable, they are still strong and sturdy enough to hold our big heavy burgers compared to paper or foam containers. Bagasse containers are definitely the safest and better option, tried and tested!

I purchase two cases of 500 containers a month from Restaurant Smart, and transactions with them were always a breeze. They also offer compostable dinnerware, utensils, cups, and straws. Restaurant Smart indeed is a one-stop restaurant supply store for food businesses of any size.

I highly recommend Restaurant Smart to food businesses, especially those in need of environmentally-friendly food packaging. You can check out their website at RestaurantSmart.com.