traceless materials has collaborated with Gastro Team Bremen (GTB) - a subsidiary of Aramark catering - to test its ‘plastic-free, naturally compostable’ fries pickers on a large scale at the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals in Nuremberg, Germany.
During the festivals, GTB used the traceless fries pickers on several food trucks. traceless says the pilot project represents an important step in its efforts to scale up sustainable food service solutions. The company is currently preparing for the industrial production of its materials, aiming to meet increasing market demand and make an effective contribution to reducing global plastic pollution.
The food service industry faces the challenge of balancing comfort and customer satisfaction with the need for sustainable materials. traceless states that factors such as the large volume of single-use products required, logistical challenges in cleaning and redistribution, and the need for fast processes at points of sale make it difficult to effectively use reusable alternatives. In such contexts, the company says its solution offers a material that meets the requirements of the catering industry and is sustainable at the same time.
Karen Matthiesen, project manager and sustainability officer at GTB Gastro Team Bremen, commented: “As a full-service catering provider, we are actively exploring more sustainable alternatives to traditional plastic. The practical testing of solutions such as the traceless fries picker is an important step in this mission. The initial feedback is encouraging and shows that a solution like traceless can provide the same convenience and practicality that festival-goers expect – while ensuring true sustainability.”
In related news, in September 2024 Every Can Counts announced it had helped festival goers across the UK and Ireland recycle over 100,000 cans that summer – a 59% year on year increase – while spreading the word about the importance of recycling. The ambassadors offered rewards for recycling drink cans at Download Festival, Latitude Festival and Electric Picnic, giving festival goers the opportunity to exchange sacks of empty cans for festival-branded t-shirts or keyrings made from recycled aluminium.
Last year we looked at packaging reuse and recycling in the context of summer events such as festivals, sports events and concerts as part of our Brief series. We examined what infrastructure was available, how widespread deposit return schemes were and how sorting systems worked.
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