Introducing environmentally friendly packaging has proved to be an invaluable marketing tool for hospitality businesses, according to the founder of Plastic Free Launceston.
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Trish Haeusler’s initiative reached its one-year birthday on Thursday, boasting a following of almost 1000 followers on Facebook.
Ms Haeusler said the understanding by businesses and consumers around the need for more sustainable packaging has, anecdotally, increased dramatically.
“A lot more people are discussing [going plastic-free] – more people have converted to it and more know about it,” she said.
“Initially it was really slow and I guess there was a bit of a reluctance, but businesses are starting to see it as a marketing point.”
Sushi Plus is one Launceston business encouraging the use of plastic-free packaging as a way to differentiate itself.
The two-restaurant chain introduced its own version of the popular Keep Cups for sale in February.
Their reusable lunch boxes are made from biodegradable rice husk, and entitles customers to a 5 per cent discount on their meal whenever they use the box.
Business owner James Pearse said the initiative was partly customer-driven.
“We know that customers are demanding more of these low impact, environmentally friendly products,” he said.
“It’s another thing we can put out there on social media and we can advertise it in-store as something different.”
However, Sushi Plus’ initial foray into the plastic-free world was not purely based on marketing.
Mr Pearse said he was looking to replace all of the plastic packaging in both restaurants with paper-based biodegradable containers.
“We’re really keen to reduce the amount of single use packaging we put out there,” he said.
“We realise that it isn't good … and this is just a starting point for us.”
To celebrate its one-year anniversary, Plastic Free Launceston will begin its Last Straw campaign on Thursday.
The campaign will aim to convince hospitality businesses to replace their plastic straws with metal alternatives.
With its newly formed working group, Ms Haeusler plans on creating a database of businesses who have joined the campaign.