London’s independent take-aways and restaurants can now apply funding for more sustainable packaging to help their businesses become more environmentally friendly.
The small business support platform Enterprise Nation has partnered with Uber Eats and Visa to launch Grants for Growth, a programme to support food service businesses in their efforts to reduce packaging waste as they grow their business.
It is designed to help restaurants transition from single-use plastic packaging to greener and more sustainable options. The programme will see 20 successful applicants in London receive $10,000 each in credits (in the local currency) to spend on greener products.
Jones: transition can be hard
The initiative is part of a broader $1 million year-long effort to support small firms who use Uber Eats to grow their businesses in major cities across , Europe and US.
Pierre-Dmitri Gore-Coty, SVP and Global Head of Delivery for Uber said: “Single-use packaging is used in nearly every takeout order worldwide—with our restaurant partners we can work towards reducing waste and helping small businesses thrive.”
Research suggests single-use plastics harm the environment by disrupting the productivity of natural systems such as oceans and clogging urban infrastructure. An analysis from the Ellen Macarthur Foundation suggests if we don’t change, by 2050 single-use plastic alone will outweigh fish in the sea.
These days, customers are choosing businesses that offer sustainable choices. That’s why introducing more sustainable packaging can make businesses more appealing
Emma Jones, CEO of Enterprise Nation, said: “In an ideal world, everyone would like to do their bit by reducing unnecessary collective waste, but the transition can often be unaffordable, and beyond reach for many small businesses.
“This programme breaks the cycle and addresses the initial financial burden of purchasing the more sustainable packaging.”
“These days, customers are choosing businesses that offer sustainable choices. That’s why introducing more sustainable packaging can make businesses more appealing – so they can grow while helping the environment at the same time.”
Douglas Sabo, Chief Sustainability Officer of Visa Inc which is also backing the initiative, said: “With consumers continuing to express desires to live more sustainably, businesses across sectors have a notable opportunity to adopt more sustainable practices to meet this demand,”
Uber Eats, Visa and Enterprise Nation will be rolling out the programme across other major cities in Europe, with 60 restaurants in total across London, Madrid, and Paris receiving $10,000 each in credits (in the local equivalent currency) to spend on sustainable packaging.
