Branded Food & Beverage Service Chains Association

Single-use + Reuse System = Food Safety

10 July 2020 - The Covid-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on how food businesses operate, from social distancing measures to change in packaging solutions. On the latter point, it notably lead some food and beverage service chains to suspend acceptance of customer own cups for (re)filling, because they felt they would not be able to ensure the health and safety of their staff and customers otherwise.

Serving Europe and its members fully support and remain committed to reducing the presence of plastics litter in the oceans. Many of our members are currently exploring ways of putting in place reusable packaging systems in their stores. However, these systems need to be trialed first and will not necessarily be feasible in all situations. That is why Serving Europe believes it is crucial to recognise the synergy between safe and sustainable single-use packaging and safe and sustainable reuse systems, to ensure hygiene and the safety of both staff and customers at all times.

With this in mind, Serving Europe formally wrote two letters to the European Commission, advocating a more balanced approach to the packaging solutions available for serving food and drinks hygienically and safely out-of-home – both for in-store and for on-the-go consumption.

You can find the letter addressed to Ursula von der Leyen president of the European Commission here and the letter to the Commission’s Waste & Natural Resources unit here.



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