Nexus Foodservice Disposables and Environmental Product Guide

Our mission, as manufacturer’s representatives, is to strive to be good stewards to the environment in our marketplaces by educating, training and informing our customers on all of the different packaging materials and substrates that are used to make a wide array of disposable foodservice products. In this publication we also seek to advise our customers on how each packaging substrate should be used in operational applications like microwaves, freezers and ovens as well as which materials can be recycled and or composted in each respective region in the Western United States.

The world of foodservice packaging disposables can be very confusing in today’s ever-changing marketplace. There are so many different packaging materials that are used in a variety of food applications made by hundreds of manufacturers. Materials like PET, CPET, RPET, PLA, CPLA, PP, OPS, EPS, PVC, HDPE, GPPS, LLDPE, Aluminum, Paper, Wood, Paperboard, Corrugated Board, Bamboo, Bagasse, Glass, Molded Fiber and even Wheat Straw Grass. This guide will clarify how to use all of these different packaging substrates in a multitude of foodservice operational applications. In addition to the wide variety of packaging material options, there are cities across the North America that have banned select grades of plastics and have created new waste collection channels that lead away from landfills and to recycling centers as well as to commercial compost facilities. These new municipal changes can be confusing for many foodservice operations and even consumers. As a result this guide is intended to provide a general understanding of the substrates themselves as well as the ever-changing impact that packaging has on our environment. The guide also covers how waste is being managed by the recycling centers and composters and even other countries. Our goal is to provide the right information so that you can make the best decision with your food packaging options for your business and also guide you in how you can help the path of your packaging’s true end of life destination.

Green Manufacturer PRODUCTS

COMPOSTABLE TAKEOUT PACKAGING – containers, bowls, catering platters, lids, cups, straws and cutlery

COMPOSTABLE – can liners that are BPI certified and made from organic corn resin.

GREEN SEAL CERTIFIED – mops, towels, chemicals, and disinfecting equipment solutions

PLANT-BASED MEATS – burgers, hot dogs, chicken and pepperoni all made out of vegetable plant starches.

JAN / SAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS GUIDE

Our mission, as Manufacturer Representatives, is to provide not only a wealth of product information and training to our customers, among our janitorial lines but also critical industry data and advanced cleaning methods that can help them make better decisions about how they clean. The goal is to make the environment at every customer facility safer and more efficient for all to enjoy.

The purpose of this environmental cleaning guide is to provide a deeper understanding into the different types of bacteria, viruses, dust, dirt, mold and mildew that can literally shut down companies, airports and even cities if they are not contained and eliminated. The deadly outbreaks of N1-H1, Ebola, HIV and most recently the COVID-19 Corona Virus actually shut down our social interaction all over the planet. The cost of employees staying home from work, trucks not being able to make their deliveries and manufacturing plants having to shut down due to the spread of a deadly virus can cripple an economy and a society as a whole. However, the greatest cost is the loss of human life which unfortunately occurs every day in every country due to unsanitary surfaces or conditions, poor air quality, moist warm areas that grow mildew and mold which all contribute to human illness. This guide was not written to promote any one brand but rather define the terminologies used in the JAN/ SAN industry, the scope of work, the impact on the environment, employees and the general public. While this is fairly comprehensive in-depth of work, it by no means can account for everything in the industry or new and emerging methods and products. This guide will explain and introduce many different types of safety products, cleaning products, chemicals and equipment with the mindset of having a safer and cleaner environment for everyone, in both the public and the private sector.

US GOVERNMENT ORDINANCES

 

arizona

ARIZONA BANS PLASTIC BAG BANS
https://www.convenience.org/Media/Daily/2015/May/ND0504155

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA SB343 PLASTIC POLLUTION BILL
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/10/05/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-to-tackle-plastic-pollution-promote-a-more-sustainable-renewable-economy-and-protect-californians-from-toxic-chemicals/

CALIFORNIA PASSES PROPOSITION 67 TO BAN ALL PLASTIC BAGS
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/plastics/carryoutbags

CALIFORNIA PASSES RIGID PLASTIC REGISTRATION LAW
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/plastics/rppc

CAL RECYCLE RIGID PLASTIC CONTAINER REGISTRATION LINK
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Plastics/RPPC/Certification/

CALIFORNIA PASSES SB 343 ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING ADVERTISING LAW
Bill Text – SB-343 Environmental advertising: recycling symbol: recyclability: products and packaging. (ca.gov)

CALIFORNIA PASSES BAN ON PLASTIC STRAWS
Bill Text – AB-1276 Single-use foodware accessories and standard condiments. (ca.gov)

CALIFORNIA PASSES SB1335 – SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING ACT
Bill Text – SB-1335 Solid waste: food service packaging: state agencies, facilities, and property. (ca.gov)

COUNTY OF SAN MATEO – BANS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PACKAGING
Ord. No. 2021-3 < San Mateo Law Library < Reader (open.law)

MAILBU CALIFORNIA BANS PLASTIC STRAWS, UTENSILS AND EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (FOAM) PACKAGING
https://www.malibucity.org/861/Plastic-Bans

PLASTIC POLLUTION PREVENTION AND PACKAGING PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ACT – SB 54
https://calrecycle.ca.gov/packaging/packaging-epr/
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB54

Colorado

COLORADO BANS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS AND POLYSTYRENE
https://www.kktv.com/2021/07/07/single-use-plastic-bags-will-be-banned-colorado-by-2024-with-bag-fees-set-start-2023-under-new-law/#:~:text=Closings%20Alerts%20Bar-,Single%2Duse%20plastic%20bags%20will%20be%20banned%20in%20Colorado%20by,in%202023%20under%20new%20law&text=DENVER%20(KKTV)%20%2D%20A%20new,and%20other%20businesses%20across%20Colorado.

hawaii

HONOLULU BANS SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/food-policy-center-honolulu-plastics-ban/

oregon

OREGON BANS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS
https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/production/Pages/Bags.aspx

utah

LOGAN UTAH BANS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/12/05/logan-becomes-third-utah/

 

washington

WASHINGTON’S SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAG BAN
https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Reducing-recycling-waste/Waste-reduction-programs/Plastics/Plastic-bag-ban

SEATTLE WASHINGTON BANS PLASTIC STRAWS AND UTENSILS
https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/SPU/Services/Recycling/EnglishSPUFlyer-LetterStrawsandUtensilsAM.pdf