Home meal delivery: how to combine simplicity, gastronomic pleasure and reduced environmental impact?

Home meal delivery has become a part of everyday life for many people. But have you ever thought about its ecological footprint? At bien Bon, we're obviously concerned about this issue. That's why we've set up a system that combines quality of taste, simplicity and sustainability, so that every meal is not only a treat for your taste buds, but also a small gesture for the planet. 

In this article, we explain how we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our services, from the choice of ingredients to delivery, preservation and packaging. You'll discover all our secrets for environmentally-friendly home meal delivery, without compromising on taste!

Long shelf life to reduce food waste 

One of the pillars of bien Bon is the long shelf-life of our dishes, achieved through the use of pasteurized glass jars. These containers are not only practical and aesthetically pleasing, they also offer an effective solution to the fight against food waste, a major issue for the planet. 

Did you know that food waste is responsible for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (source: FAO)?
In Switzerland, around 25% of the environmental impact of food is linked to food waste, much of which is generated by households, which throw away an average of 330 kg of food per year (source: FOEN).

The IPCC stresses that reducing food waste is one of the most effective strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of the food chain.

At bien Bon, we package our dishes in glass jars so that they remain fresh for several months, without compromising their taste or nutritional qualities. 

What are the benefits for you?

Less waste Thanks to long shelf life, you can plan your meals in advance without worrying about your food going off quickly. This reduces the need to throw away uneaten food.

Fewer journeys By ordering shelf-stable meals, you also reduce the frequency of your orders. Fewer deliveries, fewer trips: a double benefit for the environment. 

Our jar-packed dishes represent a significant gesture towards reducing food waste. What's more, these jars can be reused, adding a touch of eco-friendly practicality to your meals.

Batch cooking: the intelligent way to save resources 

Batch cooking is an approach to cooking in large quantities, allowing several portions to be prepared at once. At bien Bon, this method allows us to optimize the use of ingredients, limit food waste and reduce our energy consumption. 

Did you know that?

Our food waste in the kitchen is less than 5%, and most of the ingredients we receive are delivered in bulk, without packaging. This not only reduces waste, but also saves precious resources.

Inventory management is a key point in our eco-responsible approach. By planning our ingredient purchases and adapting our production to orders, we limit waste right from the start of the chain. Unlike supermarkets, which have to manage large quantities of unsold products, we buy and produce only what is needed to meet demand.

What's more, according to a study by ADEME, professional kitchens like ours consume between 20% and 40% less energy than domestic kitchens. Why do we do this? Thanks to the use of optimized equipment and more efficient management of cooking times. This means that every well-balanced dish that arrives at your door requires less energy to prepare than a home-cooked meal.

Batch cooking = less energy consumption = a reduced carbon footprint. So why deprive yourself?

Packaging: goodbye plastic, hello reusable jars 

One of the most pressing challenges in home meal delivery is packaging management. Single-use plastic, though practical, poses serious ecological problems (hello cardboard tray with plastic lid). Billions of tons of plastic end up in landfills and oceans every year, where they can take centuries to decompose (source: National Geographic).

At bien Bon, we have chosen to package our meals in glass jars. Glass is one of the most sustainable and ecological materials, as it can be reused ad infinitum or recycled without loss of quality. In Switzerland, around 83% of glass is recycled every year (source: Swiss Recycling Federation).

Why is glass a sustainable solution? 

Reusable Our glass jars can be used again and again. You can even reuse them at home after enjoying your food.

Recyclable Unlike plastics, glass does not release microplastics into the environment. And the tinplate used for the lids is also recyclable. 

As for our shipping packaging (cardboard boxes, jar protectors, ice packs), it is designed to be reusable and optimized to limit its weight and the quantity of material required.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Our business model is based on these three pillars of the circular economy. We are constantly on the lookout for new alternatives to further reduce the environmental footprint of our packaging. 

Seasonal and regional ingredients: a conscious choice

Another way of reducing the carbon footprint of food is to give priority to local and seasonal ingredients. At bien Bon, we pay close attention to where our products come from. We favor ingredients from Swiss agriculture or neighboring countries such as France, Italy or Germany. To limit the impact of transport, we avoid as far as possible products that require air transport. 

Why is this important?

Products imported by air generate up to 30 times more emissions than those transported by truck (source: Office Fédéral de l'Environnement). So, by opting for regional ingredients, we significantly reduce transport-related CO₂ emissions.

We're also committed to respecting the seasons: no tomatoes in winter or strawberries in January at bien Bon. According to the WWF, vegetables grown in heated greenhouses consume up to 15 times more energy than those produced in open fields. By respecting the seasons, we reduce energy use for cultivation, while supporting local producers.

Plant proteins: the beneficial alternative

The choice of proteins also has a considerable impact on the environment. Livestock farming, particularly that of ruminants such as cows, is responsible for a large proportion of food-related greenhouse gas emissions. For example, producing a kilo of beef requires around 15,000 liters of water, while a kilo of lentils requires just 50 liters (source: FAO).

A transition to plant-based proteins

At bien Bon, we value alternatives to animal proteins. Our vegetarian dishes based on legumes, tofu or seitan are not only delicious, but also represent a more environmentally-friendly option. By incorporating these dishes into your diet, you can reduce your ecological footprint, while enjoying new flavors.

Plant proteins are not only good for the planet, they're also excellent for your health and well-being. So why not give them a try?

Home meal delivery: a controlled impact

Transport is often considered one of the most polluting aspects of home meal delivery. But it really depends on the context. Contrary to popular belief, having a meal delivered is not necessarily more polluting than going shopping by car.

Less impact than car shopping

If you live in the city and walk to the grocery store, the difference in impact is minimal: the food you bought was delivered by truck from a logistics center to your favorite Coop or Migros store anyway.

However, for those who travel by car, home delivery is often more eco-responsible. In fact, according to a study by Carbone 4, transport to do your shopping by car accounts for up to 60% of food-related CO₂ emissions in peri-urban areas.

By grouping several orders on the same round, we avoid unnecessary journeys and optimize the use of delivery vehicles. According to a study by Carbone 4, individual shopping trips by car can account for a significant proportion of food-related emissions, up to 60 % in suburban areas. In comparison, a shared delivery can divide these emissions by several households, making home meal delivery more environmentally friendly than regular car shopping.

We continue to explore ways of improving this logistics chain. For example, solutions such as electric vehicles or cargo bikes for high-density urban areas are being considered to further reduce our environmental footprint.

Awareness and responsibility: bien Bon supports you 

Our mission doesn't end with home meal delivery. We are committed to continuously improving our practices to minimize the ecological footprint of our business. This involves a constant search for new sustainable solutions, whether in the management of ingredients, the improvement of logistics, or the use of new, more environmentally-friendly technologies.

By offering you well-preserved dishes, made with local ingredients, and delivered in an optimized way, we're part of the way towards more responsible consumption.

By sharing with you the details of our practices and our efforts to reduce our environmental impact, we're trying to go one step further.

According to the WWF, around 30% of an individual's food-related carbon footprint can be reduced through more responsible food choices, such as favouring local produce and limiting waste. Every gesture counts, and together we can make a real difference to the future of our planet.

Conclusion: bien Bon, your ally for (more) eco-responsible meal delivery

If it's well thought out, home meal delivery can be a perfectly sustainable approach. At bien Bon, we are committed at every stage to limiting our ecological impact. From the long shelf life of our dishes to plant-based proteins, seasonal ingredients and reusable packaging, we've done everything we can to offer you a high-quality taste experience while respecting the environment.

Ordering from Bien Bon is much more than just a home-delivered meal. It's a responsible choice for you and for the planet. You benefit from a convenient, gourmet service, while limiting your impact on the environment. So, are you ready to join the bien Bon community and contribute to a more sustainable future?

Sources

FOEN : Statistics on food waste in Switzerland

IPCC : Special Report on Climate Change and Land (2019)

National Geographic : Plastic pollution

FAO : Data on the impact of animal and plant proteins

Swiss Recycling Federation : Glass recycling rate in Switzerland

WWF : Food-related carbon footprint

Carbon 4 : Deciphering the carbon impact of e-commerce and delivery