Reducing Single-Use Foodware

The document reports on Phase 1 of a project to reduce single-use foodware in Winnipeg, MB. Through surveys of 26 food-service businesses and 50 customers, it finds a high level of awareness and willingness to transition to reusables, though significant barriers exist regarding cost, convenience, and communication. It recommends the adoption of a city-wide reusable foodware program, increased incentives for 'Bring Your Own' (BYO) practices, and government guidance on sustainable procurement.

• Winnipeg customers show strong support for reducing single-use waste, with 74% agreeing or strongly agreeing that "Restaurants and coffee shops should do more to reduce single-use foodware."
• There is significant customer interest in returnable takeout systems; 51% of surveyed customers stated they would use such a service "most or every time they ordered takeout" if it were available.
• While 69% of surveyed Winnipeg businesses allow customers to bring their own (BYO) reusable foodware, 83% of those businesses report that 5% or fewer of their customers actually do so, largely because 82% of businesses do not use signage or communication to encourage the practice.
• Food-service businesses in Winnipeg report being minimally impacted by the federal single-use plastics ban, though some noted increased costs for alternative materials like bamboo and a general customer dislike of paper straws.
• Businesses identified several key needs to facilitate the transition to reusables, most notably financial assistance for procurement, information on costs and savings, and public health guidelines.
• The document argues that switching to biodegradable, compostable, or biobased plastics is not a comprehensive solution to plastic pollution because these materials often require specific conditions to break down that are rarely found in the environment or are not accepted by Canadian composting facilities.

APA

Langenfeld, D., & Rochman, C. (2026). Reducing Single-Use Foodware. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-04/reducing-single-use-foodware-winnipeg.pdf

Chicago

Langenfeld, Desiree, and Chelsea Rochman. Reducing Single-Use Foodware. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-04/reducing-single-use-foodware-winnipeg.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Langenfeld |first1=Desiree |last2=Rochman |first2=Chelsea |title=Reducing Single-Use Foodware |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=April 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-04/reducing-single-use-foodware-winnipeg.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{langenfeld2026reducing, author = {Langenfeld, Desiree and Rochman, Chelsea}, title = {{Reducing Single-Use Foodware}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-04/reducing-single-use-foodware-winnipeg.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }