Green Tips: Takeout

As COVID cases are spiking and the weather is getting colder, many are opting for takeout rather than dining in. Plastic containers and excess packaging can make takeout a less eco-friendly option, but there are many ways to still be environmentally conscious.

• When choosing what to order, stick to in-season foods such as root vegetables and winter squash. Studies have found that eating in-season foods reduces the amount of energy necessary to artificially grow, store, or transport out-of-season produce, reducing your carbon footprint. 
• Research where your favorite restaurants source their ingredients, and try to opt for ones that use local ingredients to support nearby businesses and lower transportation emissions.
• Be sure to ask the restaurant to not include plastic utensils or unnecessary packaging, and instead use your own at home.
• If you do receive plastic utensils or any to-go containers, recycle or reuse them when possible.
• When possible, pick up take-out yourself and bring your own bags to avoid disposable paper bags.
• Try to order from restaurants that use environmentally conscious packaging, such as biodegradable containers.
• Try to avoid getting dressings or sauces on the side to avoid extra plastic waste, and ask for them to be mixed in instead.
• Eat your leftovers the next day for lunch, or incorporate them into a home-cooked meal for dinner to avoid food waste.

Thanks for reading this week’s Green Tips! We hope these tips will help you to stay environmentally conscious while enjoying takeout during the winter months!