Just Eat has announced the launch of a €50,000 fund as part of a price-match initiative to further promote the roll-out of seaweed-coated takeaway packaging from recent Earthshot UK Climate Prize winners Notpla across its restaurant partner network in Ireland.
Details
The Just Eat Notpla boxes have been designed with a seaweed-based coating, and are water-resistant and greaseproof to ensure they can be used as food packaging. The packaging is both fully recyclable and will biodegrade within 4-6 weeks in a home compost.
To coincide with the launch of the initiative, and in acknowledgement of Just Eat's sponsorship with Leinster Rugby, Notpla packaging was made available from selected food vendors operating at the Aviva Stadium as a once off for the Leinster's Champions Cup clash against Racing 92 on 21 January 2023. Beyond this, the packaging will be rolled out for food vendors at the RDS for all of Leinster’s remaining home fixtures this season.
Statements
Robin Clark, senior global director, partner & partnerships marketing, ESG & sustainability at Just Eat Takeaway.com said, "We are constantly looking for ways to move the needle and make a meaningful impact when it comes to sustainability, not only for our own business but for our restaurant partner ecosystem as well. Our partnership with Notpla, which now spans six markets including Ireland, plays a critical role in our strategy to help build a more sustainable future for the food delivery sector. By launching this fund, which is designed to help our restaurant partners adopt more environmentally friendly products and practices, we are able to influence operations not directly in our control."
Amanda Roche-Kelly, managing director, Just Eat Ireland, added, "As a business that’s very proud of our operations in Ireland, we're fully cognisant of the Irish government's ambition to meet certain sustainability targets over the coming weeks, months and years. If we can play even in the smallest role in supporting that ambition, then we're happy to do so. We know there isn't a quick fix in tackling sustainability, however by partnering with such iconic Irish organisations such as Leinster Rugby and the RDS, we feel this is a great way to drive awareness of Notpla packaging and ultimately support our restaurant partners to make an immediate impact."
Notpla co-founder Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez also added, "There's an ever-increasing demand from consumers to reduce their waste, but without sacrificing the convenience of their favourite takeaway. So, we're thrilled to see Notpla's unique, naturally biodegradable seaweed packaging make its way into the hands of customers all around Ireland thanks to Just Eat's support. Just Eat truly embraces the opportunity to be a force for change in the sustainable food delivery sector and this fund will ensure its restaurant partners around Ireland can reap the rewards that Notpla brings.
"It's an exciting time as we continue our mission to make packaging disappear. By scaling production of our coated board to new heights in 2022, we're now in a position to replace single-use plastic food packaging at an industrial scale - proven by large-scale events such as Leinster's upcoming match at the Aviva Stadium."
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