Subway switches to recycled PET catering trays

MILFORD, Connecticut – Catering trays made from 95% post-consumer recycled PET, are making the rounds in all Subway restaurant chains across North America. The brand has been true to its commitment to go environmental in its restaurants and operations where it can. Having switched to the new trays will keep about 1.8 million pounds of plastic materials from going into the waste stream annually. The trays are now used in 29,000 SUBWAY restaurants in the United States and Canada.

"With every step we take towards sustainability, such as with the improvements we've made to catering trays this year, and those that we made to salad bowls and lids last year, we are closer to our end goal of being able to show a significant difference in the Subway brand's overall footprint,” said Elizabeth Stewart, marketing director, who also oversees the brand's Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. “The catering trays and salad bowls alone will keep more than 4 million pounds of plastic from going directly into the landfills each year, and we are proud to roll these out just in time for Earth Day.  While we are proud of the steps we have taken so far, we recognise there is more to be done and are committed to increasing our green efforts."

Manufactured by Pactiv of Lake Forest in Illinois, the tray and lid set is made from 19, 20-ounce recycled plastic soda or water bottles, and these can be recycled where commercial facilities exist. The same company made Subway’s eco-friendly salad bowls and lids which were introduced in 2012. Pactiv works with a state-of-the-art facility that cleans and recycles PET soda and water bottles, creating the materials used in the new trays.

The food chain plans to add pieces of plastic packaging that can utilise these recycled materials. Together, the salad bowls and lids, which are made from two-and-a-half recycled plastic soda and water bottles, are keeping about 2.62 million pounds of plastic from the waste stream annually.

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