14 Oct. 2024: Uber will feature Releaf Paper’s bags made from fallen leaf fibres in its new global initiative to transition the food delivery and mobility sectors into eco-designed packaging, starting in France.
The programme will begin with the Paris Innovation Pilot, into which Uber has invested almost $1 million (€915,261.27) to help local restaurants adopt sustainability-minded packaging solutions. This is set to act as a model for future initiatives in other areas of the world.
Parisian restaurants will be able to access Releaf’s packaging products via Uber Eats’ Green Packaging Marketplace. Releaf plans to produce its packaging locally in France in the near future, and hopes to align with Uber’s plans to reduce packaging waste and benefit the environment on a wider scale.
Uber expects its new hub in Paris to give restaurants financial incentives to pursue environmental benefits in their packaging; at the same time, it is anticipated to provide the necessary resources for green technologies such as electric vehicles.
The initiative was announced at Uber’s Go Get Zero event in London, where it also set out a roadmap to achieve zero emissions in its operations by 2040.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of Uber’s ambitious journey towards a zero-emissions future, starting in Paris,” said Alexander Sobolenko, general manager of Releaf Paper. “Our collaboration on the Paris Innovation Pilot is a significant step forward in proving that local solutions, like our paper bags made with fallen leaves, can make a big impact globally.
“By using fibres from fallen leaves, collected by public utilities in urban areas, we transform waste into eco-friendly materials that are both beautiful and functional. This innovative approach reduces deforestation and carbon emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future. We hope that announcement at Uber’s Go Get Zero event is just the beginning.”
Last year, Uber joined forces with Visa to help small-to-medium-sized Uber Eats restaurants transition into sustainability-minded packaging via a $1 million fund. Hubbub and Starbucks’ Bring It Back Fund also enabled Uber Eats to trial reusable takeaway food packaging and a doorstep collection system for used containers – aiming to cut down on single-use packaging waste while optimizing consumer convenience.
Additionally, the company extended its partnership with DeliverZero to the West Coast of the United States back in April; it continued to offer takeaway food in reusable, returnable packaging, which could be returned at storefronts or via a courier.
Meanwhile, Releaf Paper’s leaf-based paper bags were previously nominated for a Sustainability Award under the pre-commercialized Renewables category. Since then, the start-up has unveiled three new solutions made from fallen leaves and recycled fibres, including a self-assembled box and wrapping paper.
