Your customers want you to embrace sustainable packaging practices. According to recent surveys, approximately two-thirds of Americans are demanding sustainable packaging and clear labeling.

This means that single-use plastics and anything else that can’t be recycled is a no-no. Instead, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and even edible packaging is in. Many restaurants are already following suit, with McDonald’s announcing they would ditch foam packaging in 2018 and Starbucks testing greener coffee cups that are both recyclable and compostable.

To stay ahead of the competition, many brands are personalizing their packaging.
Personalization offers many benefits for companies, chief among them – it helps restaurant staff learn the names of regulars which creates a stronger emotional connection with their customers. This is especially important now that consumers are increasingly ordering through third-party apps, instead of directly from restaurants.

Personalized packaging offers one of the few opportunities to speak directly to customers ordering takeout and delivery and show them how much they’re appreciated. It’s a big bonus if customers end up sharing the personalized packaging on social media, by giving restaurants free word-of-mouth positive marketing.

Packaging provides the perfect opportunity for customers to interact with your brand. At a bare minimum, you should be including your company name or logo on the packaging so that your brand is visible to anyone who sees it. Packaging is also a tremendously powerful way to show your customers what you care about and why they should care about you.

By including your branding on your takeout packaging, you’re helping the customer associate the food they’re eating with your specific restaurant and not with a food delivery app. With stronger brand recognition, that customer is more likely to order directly from your restaurant in the future.