PSA: Our produce orders arrive wrapped in layers of plastic, need help

Hey everyone, I run a small bistro and our weekly veggie delivery comes buried in plastic wrap and foam trays. It's really bugging me because I'm trying to cut down on trash. The company says it keeps everything fresh, but I see so much plastic piling up. Have any of you found a good supplier that uses less packaging? I'm scared to switch in case the food doesn't last as long. We go through lots of herbs and tomatoes, so they need to stay fresh. What about using those beeswax wraps or silicone bags in the fridge? Any tips would be awesome, thanks!

3 comments

3 Comments

charlie2561mo ago

Switching suppliers for less packaging sounds good, but I've had issues with stuff going bad faster (herbs especially turn slimy without tight wrap). Those beeswax wraps can't handle the moisture in a fridge like commercial plastic does. Your current company might use that much plastic for a reason, like preventing waste from spoiled food. Could you ask if they have any take-back programs for the packaging?

xenam761mo ago

Remember that trend of reusing plastic bags for veggies? Tried it with bell peppers once. They got soft and weird in a couple days. My fridge smelled like a compost bin. Sometimes the extra plastic is there for a reason, annoying as it is.

ninasingh22d ago

That compost bin smell is the worst, I've been there. So the plastic is basically a moisture barrier to stop the veggies from sweating themselves into rot. Have you tried poking a few holes in those reused bags to let some air in? I'm wondering if the problem is more about trapped humidity than the bag material itself.