How smart packaging is bringing in big money for food businesses

With food aggregators like Swiggy and Zomato dominating the online delivery market, ordering food is no longer just about satisfying hunger. It’s a multi-step process that often starts with how tempting the dish looks in its image, followed by checking if the restaurant boasts a rating of over 4 stars. And crucially, the way food is packaged when it arrives at your doorstep matters too.

More and more people today are conscious of the environment and committed to living sustainably. For them, the packaging of delivered food is just as important as the meal itself. Food businesses are taking note. Plastic containers are being swapped out for eco-friendly paper boxes, and some brands are going even further, turning packaging into a lucrative selling point.

The environmental concerns

A study published in Nature reports that India is the largest emitter of plastic waste globally, responsible for around one-fifth of the world’s plastic emissions—approximately 9.3 million metric tonnes (MT) per year.

In this respect, several food brands have created the buzz, not just for their food but for their innovative approaches to food delivery packaging. By integrating advanced, eco-friendly materials and innovative design principles, Pot Pot has set new standards for sustainable food packaging without compromising style, flavour, or functionality. When you order from Pot Pot, your food arrives in sturdy paper boxes, glass jars, potlis (cloth bags), and they even give you real cutlery!

Varun Tuli, managing director of Yum Yum Tree Group (Pot Pot’s parent company), told India Today, “While India generates approximately 15,000 MT of plastic waste daily, with only a fraction being recycled, the need for sustainable alternatives is urgent. In response to these challenges and government regulations, such as the 2022 phase-out of single-use plastics, brands are adopting more eco-friendly practices.”

Other brands under the Yum Yum Tree Group, like Wheaty and Noshi, have also embraced sustainable and eco-conscious packaging practices.