Guidelines for your region
We’ve partnered with REnato lab in Taiwan, a team of multidisciplinary experts dedicated to building a more sustainable planet, developing a sustainable packaging framework for restaurants, and helping you make informed decisions for your business.
This framework is in line with Taiwanese and global guidelines, and emphasises packaging designed for reuse, recycling, or composting.
Criteria used to assess packaging
We worked with experts to develop criteria to help you understand if packaging is more sustainable. To be considered more sustainable, packaging must meet the following criteria:
Is it in line with Taiwan’s policies and regulations?
Ensure food safety
Packaging must avoid toxic substances, prevent chemical contamination, and clearly display relevant information about the materials of the packaging.
Restrict harmful materials
Taiwan has restrictions on single-use plastic items, such as PVC food packaging, single-use plastic straws, and utensils. These types of products and materials should be avoided or not used.
Is it recyclable or compostable?
Passing criteria
Examples of recyclable plastics that are OK to use include plastics marked with recycling symbols 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, as well as those bearing general recycling symbols. These types of materials are considered recyclable and meet sustainability standards.
Examples of certifications indicating that these materials are recyclable:
Paper containers are also regarded as recyclable and compliant with sustainability standards.
Some small items such as utensils and straws can’t be recycled, regardless of the material they are made of. Because of this, many items made with reduced impact on the environment through use of renewable materials can be considered sustainable. These materials include raw wood, cellulose fiber or paper.
Not passing criteria
Food packaging containing PVC, and plastics labelled as type 7, are not widely recyclable and are prohibited in Taiwan.
Compostable packaging is allowed but must be certified.
Examples of certifications that indicate packaging is compostable:
Examples of sustainable packaging
Based on the criteria listed above, here are some examples of how sustainable packaging is assessed in Taiwan.
Type of packaging | Is it sustainable? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Plastic bags (i.e. HDPE/LDPE shopping bags) | Yes | TW recycling facilities are able to process this type of flexible plastic |
Aluminum tray | No | No aluminum recycling facilities in TW |
Plastic (PP, PET) bowl + lid | Yes | Can be recycled |
PVC cling wrap | No | Due to its chlorine content and associated environmental and health risks, its use has been banned |
Clear PET cup | No | Single-use plastic cups are banned by legislation |
PLA cup | No | Single-use plastic cups are banned by legislation |
Find local packaging suppliers
To make it easier and more affordable for you to source sustainable packaging, we’ve partnered with suppliers in your area.
We're here to help, but you should make decisions based on what's best for your business. We've teamed up with experts in the industry to help provide this information as of the date of publication. Materials are provided for informational purposes only and shouldn't be relied upon as business or legal advice from Uber.
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