Okay, I don't hate Subway. I actually really like their ham subs, plus their meatball one is decent. I go maybe once a month. I like that their mission is to provide fresh food and that goal is actually attainable through their planned operations setup. It's great.
However, I was thinking today about the massive waste that Subway contributes to the Earth each time someone rings up their lunch special combo for $8.55. More often than not, you're given your sub in one of those long, skinny plastic bags. More often than not, you and your significant other/co-worker/children sit down at Subway to indulge in one of their "healthy" meals (note the sarcasm, but that's another story). More often than not, said patrons will quickly take their wrapped sub out of the bag that it was put in a mere 20 seconds before, and throw it out. And, more often than not, that bag looks like this:
The bag is clean, just slightly wrinkled, and completed devoid of any food scraps. After all the sub was wrapped in a paper, too. So what worries me is that the life-span of each bag is about one minute if the patron is eating in the restaurant. I recognize this is a different story if someone is taking food out, or if they have leftovers. But what about everyone else that finishes their meal & then throws out the crumbs and packaging? That's probably tens of thousands of Subway bags ending up in the trash after only being used for a minute.
Surely, Subway could re-evaluate it's usage of the bags? I've noticed that in some locations they've begun offering baskets instead of bags for foodie's who want to sit & enjoy their sandwich. That's awesome. But maybe not enough, if not all locations offer this. Remember those plastic bag caddies that our parents had that we thought were so silly? My dad had one under the sink AND one in the laundry room (commitment). Subway could integrate an inexpensive device like that near the trash cans in it's current and future locations so that customers can actually recycle the plastic bags that are barely even used. I would venture to guess that this would reduce Subway's costs if they could have an ongoing source of recyclable bags that could be made into future Subway bags. It would at least create an environment of goodwill if patrons see that their favorite fast food restaurant is becoming more responsible for the consequences of doing business. Win, win- no?
Now, this doesn't really solve the problem. I am sick of plastic bags everywhere, and would honestly prefer it if Subway found a solution to just not produce them anymore. But at least this is a step in the right direction to reduce their waste contribution in an already cluttered, littered world. Thoughts?
However, I was thinking today about the massive waste that Subway contributes to the Earth each time someone rings up their lunch special combo for $8.55. More often than not, you're given your sub in one of those long, skinny plastic bags. More often than not, you and your significant other/co-worker/children sit down at Subway to indulge in one of their "healthy" meals (note the sarcasm, but that's another story). More often than not, said patrons will quickly take their wrapped sub out of the bag that it was put in a mere 20 seconds before, and throw it out. And, more often than not, that bag looks like this:
 |
| This is my bag from my sandwich earlier. Apologies that it's upside down, but I needed a quick photo! |
Surely, Subway could re-evaluate it's usage of the bags? I've noticed that in some locations they've begun offering baskets instead of bags for foodie's who want to sit & enjoy their sandwich. That's awesome. But maybe not enough, if not all locations offer this. Remember those plastic bag caddies that our parents had that we thought were so silly? My dad had one under the sink AND one in the laundry room (commitment). Subway could integrate an inexpensive device like that near the trash cans in it's current and future locations so that customers can actually recycle the plastic bags that are barely even used. I would venture to guess that this would reduce Subway's costs if they could have an ongoing source of recyclable bags that could be made into future Subway bags. It would at least create an environment of goodwill if patrons see that their favorite fast food restaurant is becoming more responsible for the consequences of doing business. Win, win- no?
Now, this doesn't really solve the problem. I am sick of plastic bags everywhere, and would honestly prefer it if Subway found a solution to just not produce them anymore. But at least this is a step in the right direction to reduce their waste contribution in an already cluttered, littered world. Thoughts?
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