Just Eat has teamed up with Unilever and Notpla to issue sauces in seaweed-based sachets in a London trial
The scheme currently involves 65 Just East restaurant partners who are using the Notpla sachets, described as 100% biodegradable, for Hellmann’s ketchup, BBQ, tartare and garlic sauces.
Just Eat hopes to extend the trial to more cities.
The plant-based sachets are said to naturally biodegrade in approximately six weeks.
Customers are advised that they can dispose of them in home compost or an ordinary waste bin to fully decompose.
They are described as flavourless and colourless, leaving the sauces unaffected.
Just Eat carried out a similar trial in 2018 with 10 restaurants last year which, according to the company, resulted in more than 46,000 plastic ketchup sachets being saved from entering landfill.
A survey of customers found 92% wanted to see more of their takeaway sauces coming in the seaweed sachets, with 91% saying they found them easy or easier to use than a regular sachet.
Pierre Paslier, co-chief executive of Notpla, said: “Takeaway sauce sachets are one of the hardest single-use plastics to deal with. They’re easy to litter and have low residual value which limits the recycling potential.
“We’re very excited to work hand in hand with leaders in the takeaway and sauce sectors. Sustainability is a top priority for their consumers and is key for these sectors to survive in the long run.”
Hazel Detsiny, managing director of Unilever food solutions for the UK and Ireland, said: “This trial is a great example of collaboration driving game-changing innovation.
“In partnership with Just Eat and Notpla, we’re creating a new and exciting experience for Just Eat customers who can enjoy the same great tasting Hellmann’s but with zero plastic waste.
“Squeezing sauce out of a seaweed sachet will be a first for many, but it’s one small change with potential for big impact.”
Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “The devastating impact of plastic pollution on our natural land and marine environments is all too clear to us, and even something small like a sauce sachet can contribute to this blight.”
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