Zen starts shift to paper from plastic in its restaurants

The Thailand-based company is focused on ensuring customer needs for convenience are met while adapting its business to meet changes in customer behaviour. In a media release on Thursday, the company said it will replace foam cups and plastic containers to avoid toxins that can be harmful to consumers.
As well, plastic containers cause environmental damage because they do not easily decompose. In contrast, paper can be composted or recycled.
It is important to match the right type of paper packaging for each type of food, said the release from ZEN Corporation Group. They recently began using paper packaging for their Tumour, Musha and Khian restaurants for take-away and food delivery. The programme will be expanded to other restaurants in future.
In particular, ZEN aims to be part of the circular economy by using the products that are recyclable and so can reduce environmental damage. They will also encourage their customers to change their behaviours to reflect environmental consciousness.
“Environmental awareness is very important, so we aim to support and promote the environment. However the using of paper food packaging is not just to [reduce damage to] the environment only, but also to ensure food safety. We are always concerned about the key elements in how we like to serve our customer needs: taste, quality and safety. So the proper using of packaging is important and we need to be aware of that,” Boonyong Tansakul, chief executive officer of Zen Corporation Group Plc, said. 

Plastic garbage in Thailand now reaches above 2 million tonnes yearly, accounting for 12 per cent of all garbage. Of the more than 1 million tonnes that ends up in the ocean, most is plastic including plastic bags at 13 per cent, straws at 10 per cent, plastic caps at 8 per cent and food packaging at 8 per cent.