Identify a problem with the way trash is handled and learn about it.
2015 Trash Trek Project Challenge
Our solution for the 2015-2016 Trash Trek challenge is to persuade pizza companies to use reusable, recyclable pizza boxes.
Pizza boxes are not easily recyclable due to the grease and food remains on the boxes. In some cases, you can recycle the tops of the pizza boxes, but not all recylcing companies participate in this partial recycling of pizza boxes.
Our solution involves getting pizza companies to think about implementing re-useable, recyclable pizza boxes. We think that if pizza companies use reuseable, recyclable pizza boxes, it would eliminate some of the garbage currently made by pizza boxes.
There are pizza places that use recyclable pizza boxes created by DMS Innovations, but we could only find one of them, which was a small pizza shop in California called Mombos. The pizza box they use is both reusable and recyclable. We decided to contact several major pizza chains to see how they would feel about using a reusable, recyclable pizza box. Sadly, all of them declined to comment on any of our questions, saying that any information regarding their pizza boxes was confidential. We also contacted some smaller pizza companies in Minnesota, and a few said they would be open to learnng more about the idea of reusable, recyclable pizza boxes.
The technology is already there to have a recyclable, reusable pizza box, but major chains are not interested in pursuing or even discussing the option of using one. In order for our solution to work, we need to get a few smaller pizza companies on board, and then contact larger pizza chains to show how it has worked with smaller chains.
We hope to reach major pizza chains, and maybe one day have all pizza companies offer a reusable/recyclable pizza box.
596 of the nearly 1700 who that took our survey left their email address, wanting to know the results of our survey. We messaged them our findings/information, as well as the video of the skit we posted on YouTube.
We conducted an online survey of pizza customers and received over 1600 responses worldwide. A majority of the people who responded said they would be interested in learning more about a recyclable, reusable option, and more than half said they would use a recyclable, reusable pizza box if one was available.
What Do Pizza Customers Want?
It's hard to change people's mind sets sometimes, but I'm sure with the right marketing, it could be done :) I think it's a great idea! -- Suzhou, China
People who can remember to bring bags to get groceries can remember to bring a box for pizza. -- Ontario, Canada
So long as the plastic used is actually recyclable and free of contaminates that leech into food then I am happy to use it. -- Christchurch, New Zealand
I just feel anything recycled or reused is a great idea for the future. [This is] just the [pizza] companyies not caring about the environment. -- Southampton, NJ
Worldwide Survey Results
Initial (worldwide) survey results show:
- 62% of people are aware that cardboard pizza boxes are not easily recyclable
- 55% of people surveyed would be interested in a re-useable, recyclable pizza box
- 32% are undecided (a maybe)
The survey was conducted via Google Forms and distributed via email and Facebook. We encouraged responders to share the survey, which resulted in 1,662 responses in all 50 states and 11 foreign countries.