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Forcustomers,afoodsafetysealprovidespeaceofmindand assurancethattheirfoodhasnotbeentampered.Inaddition,a foodsafetysealisaneasywayforbusinessestoincreasesales andinstillconsumerconfidenceasfooddeliverydominatesthe markettoday.
Fooddeliveryisnowamajorbusiness.In2020food-deliverv salesintheU.S.wereapproximately$51billion,increasingby $28billionfrom2019.Asthefooddeliveryindustryhasgrown, sohaveconcernsaroundfoodsafety.Forexample,nobody wantstheirfoodtobehalf eatenwhendeliveredbecausethe driverwashungry! AccordingtoarecentNPRstudyof500drivers,nearly30%of driversaresnackingfromthefoodtheyareresponsiblefor delivering.ThesameNPRstudyfoundthat85%ofconsumers recommendaddingatamper-proofsealtoensurethattheirfood hasnotbeentamperedwith.However,thereareconcernsthat the30%ofdriverseatingfoodcouldbemuchhigher.Onepoll publishedin2021showedthat80%offooddeliverydrivers admittedtoeatingsomeofacustomer'sorder. Notonlydo85%ofcustomersrecommendaddingatamper proofseal,buttheyarealsomorelikelytoorderfromabusiness thatprovidestamper-proofseals.Forexample,PeterD'Amelio, thePresidentandCOOofNotYourAverageJoe'sandthe formerPresidentandCOOoftheCheesecakeFactory,sawhis businessgrownearly50%whenitaddedsafetysealstohisto goorders.D'Amelioattributesthegrowthinbusinessto customerswantingtofeelreassuredaboutwheretheirfoodhas been.
ReRoute'sTamper EvidentSafetySeal(sticker)isdesignedto indicateanyleveloftampering-addinganextralayerofsecurity toanyitembeingdelivered.Oncethestickerhasbeenremoved fromthesurface,itwasappliedto,itcannotbereappliedand leavesapermanentresiduebehind.Thepermanentresidueleft behindcandisplayacustomizedmessageyoumaywanttoshare withyourclients.SafetySealscanbeusedonmetal,plastic, cardboard,glass,wood,andpaintedmetals.
F o o d D e l i v e r y
I n t h e N e w s Inrecentyearsgovernmentshavebeguntotakeissuewithsingleuseplastics. Ordinanceshaveregulatedeverydayitemsfromgrocerybagstodrinkingstraws.Efforts toreducetheuseofplasticstrawshaveseenlargeincreasesinthesaleofpaper alternatives.Thisisbecausepaperstrawmanufacturershavetoutedtheenvironmental benefitsofpaperstrawalternatives Howevereventhemostenvironmentallyconscious consumerisnothappywiththesepaperproducts.Environmentalistshaveraised concernswithemissionsrelatedtoproductionpaperproductsandthebiodegradability ofcertainpaperstraws. Consumersupportforreductionofsingleuseplasticshasbeen generallyhigh,however;satisfactionwithpaperstrawshasbeensurprisinglylow. Themainmotivationfortheswitchtopaperstrawswastoprotecttheenvironment. However,takingafurtherlookintoproductionofpaperproductsrevealssomeworrying details.First,theproductionofpaperproductsleadstolargerdegreesofpollution.This takestheforminbothchemicalsleechingintorun offwaterandgreenhousegas emission.Furthermore,whileitistruepaperstrawsarebiodegradable,itisnoguarantee thesestrawsfollowtheirintendedlifecycle.Forexample,theyneedtobeproperly disposedofinordertobecomposted.Ifconsumerssimplythrowawaytheirstrawswith normaltrashthepaperstrawswillendupinalandfills,whichlimitpaper’sdecomposition process Individualsarejustadropinthebucketofstrawconsumers Restaurantsand barsmakeupmostpaperstrawconsumers.Properdisposableofpaperstrawswould requireallrestaurantstopracticecorrectcompostingpracticesforthesestrawstobe trulybiodegradable. Furtherissueswithpaperstrawsrelatetotheirpracticality.Whilemostconsumerscan getonboardwithprotectingtheenvironment,manystillpreferthestructureofplastic straws.Amongthemostcommoncomplaintsfromconsumersrelatetothetaste, texture,andstructure.NCStateprofessorofnaturalresources,LokendraPal, conductedastudyofpaperstrawsexaminingtheirphysicalandcompositional properties.Oneoftheirfindingswasthatpaperstrawshadlose80 90%oftheir structuralstabilitywithinthirty minuteofexposuretoliquid.Somepaperstrawseven haveanunpleasanttasteduetoawaxcoatingkeepingthestrawtogether. Agavestrawsprovideatrulysustainablesolutiontotheissuesrelatedtopaperstraws. AgaveStrawsaremadefromtheleftoverstalksthatwerenolongerneededfortequila production.Thesestrawsarecompletelybiodegradableandcanbecomposted. Agavestraws’sustainabilityistwofold.AsaresultofitsupcyclingprocessAgavestraws makeuseofagavepulpthatwouldhaveotherwisebeenunused.Additionally,the productionprocessleadsdramaticallylowerlevelsofemissionsthanpaperandplastic alternatives Furthermore,Agavestrawsarefullybiodegradableastheycanfully decompose,thankstomicroorganisms, inlandfillconditionsinonetofiveyears.Agave strawsalsoaddressthestructuralissuesofpaperalternatives Thisisbecausethe agavefibersareabletomorecloselyreplicatethetextureofplasticstraws.Asaresult, Agavestrawsrarelyeverexperiencethesoggytexturethatconsumerassociatewith paperstraws.
SB 54 will require all packaging in the state to recyclable or compostable by 2032. These efforts will prevent microplastics from accumulating in soil and waterways, protecting Californians All single-use packaging and foodware, including non plastic items, must be recyclable or compostable by 2032, according to the law In addition, producers will be required to cut plastic packagingby25percentin10years.Thoseproducersfoundinviolationwould besubjecttofines.
ReRoute Americas is an American owned and operated company headquartered in Naples, FL, committed to helping the restaurant and hospitality industry meet the challenging needs of supply and demand and address food safety and third party delivery platforms. As a supply chain innovator and disruptor, ReRoute Americas offers an alternative to buyers by partneringwithNorth,Central,andSouthAmericanmanufacturingcompanies to bring high-quality products at a more affordable rate with faster delivery times to The United States. Our products are fully recyclable, composed of plastics and biodegradable materials created in humane conditions that lessen our dependence on Asia for our supply needs. Our ReRoute team is dedicated to providing the best customer service while being socially, environmentally, and economically conscious. Above all, ReRoute Americas is committedtohavingapositiveenvironmentalandsocialimpactsotheearth andallthoselivingonitwillbenefit Featuringmorethan50environmentallyfriendlyproducts,includinghigh end alternatives for restaurateurs and hoteliers, ReRoute Americas is the leading supplier in the United States of cutting edge eco friendly products with quick turnaround.Forfurtherinformation,visitwww.ReRouteAmericas.com
C a l i f o r n i a
ReRouteAmericasApplaudsCalifornia’sEffortstoReducePlasticWaste Naples, Florida ReRoute Americas, a company committed to helping the restaurantindustrymeetthechallengingneedsofsupplyanddemandaswell as address food safety and third party delivery platforms applauds Governor Gavin Newsome and the California legislature regarding the passage of CaliforniaSenateBill54intolaw.
“ReRoute commends California for this important step in the right direction and hopes to see other states follow suite,” said ReRoute Cofounder and CEO Patrick Bishop. “Our agave products provide a truly sustainable solution that California is seeking to solve Plastic alternatives such as a paper have drawbacks compared to innovative solutions such as agave. As a result of its upcycling process, agave can be turned into products such as that would have otherwise been unused. Further, agave straws are completely biodegradableandcanbecomposted,”saidBishop.
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GSA’s announcement would not be possible without Executive Order 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, which directed GSA to use federal procurement policy as a way to support a recycled content market. About ReRoute ReRoute Americas is an American-owned and operated company headquartered in Naples, Florida that is committed to helping the food and beverage industry meet the challenging needs of single- use plastics. As a supply chain innovator and disruptor, ReRoute Americas offers an alternative to consumers by partnering with North, Central, and South American manufacturing companies to bring high-quality products at a more affordable rate with faster delivery times. Our products are made of fully recyclable plastics and compostable materials produced in humane conditions that lessen our dependence on Asia for our supply needs. Above all, ReRoute Americas is committed to having a positive environmental and social impact so the earth and all those living on it will benefit. ReRoute Americas is committed to making a difference, honoring every production level so as not to disrupt the planet. As a result, ReRoute has recognized a significant need to replace single-use plastics with consumer-friendly alternatives. ReRoute offers wholly recyclable and compostable cutlery, straws, to-go containers, and many more products. A substantial component of ReRoute’s success has been the use of agave in manufacturing these products. Plastic waste is a concerning issue because its chemical makeup makes it extremely difficult to decompose under normal conditions. As a result, thousands of tons of plastic end up in landfills across America daily. For example, Americans use 500 million drinking straws every day, and roughly half of the global annual plastic production is destined for a single-use product.
ReRoute America applauds the Biden Administration and the General Service Administration (GSA) for seeking to revise GSA policies and procedures to reduce single-use plastics in purchased products.
Traditional plastics have been a staple in the American consumer marketplace for decades. However, due to the low cost to produce and performance of single-use plastics, the transition to the more sustainable and comparable utility of plastic has been bumpy. For instance, the transition from plastic to paper straws has not been a successful rollout. However, even the most environmentally conscious consumer is unhappy with these paper products. Paper straws easily fall apart, affect the product’s taste, and sometimes produce an unpleasant odor. At ReRoute, we know businesses will be slow to adopt alternatives to single use-plastics if the cost difference is too extreme. That is why ReRoute has worked tirelessly to make our products in line with the cost of single-use plastics. Our straws provide a sustainable solution to the downsides of paper and plastic straws. Agave straws are made from the stalks that were no longer needed for tequila production. As a result of its upcycling process, ReRoute’s use of agave pulp that would have otherwise been unused. Additionally, the production process leads to dramatically lower emissions levels than paper and plastic alternatives.
What are the differences (performance and cost) between paper-based, aluminum-based, or compostable packaging and single-use plastic-based packaging?
ReRoute Public Comment
Furthermore, the agave sleeve is 100% biodegradable and designed for cold and
hot meals up to 125 F. The sleeve will degrade in an aerobic or anaerobic environment within 1-5 Additionally,years. there is no production of microplastics in its degradation process. The bio-based agave product line is USDA certified, and FDA approved. Agave straws also address the structural issues of paper alternatives because the agave fibers can more closely replicate the texture of plastic straws. As a result, Agave straws rarely experience the soggy texture that consumers associate with paper straws.
Does your company have experience using environmentally preferable packaging?
How could compliance with reduced or eliminated plastic content be verified?
To address single-use containers, ReRoute makes use of bagasse, a sustainable material derived from plant-based sources. More specifically, bagasse is produced from sugarcane byproducts. Like, our agave products, this process of upcycling combined with plastic reduction has exponential impacts on limiting our carbon footprint, which makes bagasse an ecofriendly choice for food packaging. In addition, bagasse food containers are microwave safe and won’t emit toxic fumes when heated. These food containers are also durable enough to take home leftovers. ReRoute hopes to contribute to a healthier environment and more convenient dining experience. ReRoute remains committed to its goal and aims to continue launching ecofriendly products meeting the needs of both customers and the planet. The company is starting to grow rapidly as consumers notice these products’ quality and benefits. ReRoute fulfills hundreds of weekly deliveries, servicing clients across the restaurant and hospitality industries. What is the best way for GSA to aid its contractors in moving to environmentally preferable packing and packaging, and how quickly should it move? ReRoute believes the government should move to implement environmentally preferable packing and packaging as soon as possible. The longer the government delays, single-use plastics will continue to create dangerous environmental conditions. ReRoute believes the best way to aid contractors is to offer incentives for contractors with a sustainable solution. Incentives could include points in the RFP process. Another idea is to implement a “Buy Sustainable” clause similar to Buy American clauses GSA already requires.
First, a contractor should be required to submit product documentation verifying compliance with the contract’s sustainable requirements. The government should then use an independent third party to verify the accuracy of the submission. Any contractor should be vetted and approved by the Government to verify the accuracy of the information and ensure that the products approved are actually good for the environment.
Conclusion
ReRoute is excited that the Biden Administration is taking a holistic approach to our environment. Eliminating single-use plastics is just one ring in the chain that will reverse the effects of climate change. At ReRoute, we know that the sustainability of our products is just one requirement of being a good steward. Therefore, ReRoute has examined its entire supply chain to ensure that we follow all best practices. ReRoute looks forward to working with the Biden Administration and other leaders to eliminate single-use plastics. Upcycled products such as agave are innovative solutions that perform just as well as plastic but are significantly better for the environment. We encourage the GSA to examine innovative production solutions such as agave when deciding how to eliminate the harmful use of single-use plastics.
