Zomato has launched PackSwitch, a digital platform for more sustainable food packaging in India. Restaurants are intended to be able to use it to select suitable packaging materials for different dishes and find suppliers.
The interactive website is designed to help hospitality businesses choose packaging for takeaway meals. The starting point is the specific dish, as packaging requirements for things like curries, pizza, desserts or drinks differ in terms of leak-proof qualities, grease resistance, moisture and temperature.
Select materials to suit the application
According to Zomato, PackSwitch compares various packaging materials and explains which foods and delivery conditions they are suitable for. These include bagasse, aluminium, areca palm leaf, compostable plastics, clay, glass and various paper solutions, among others.
Users first select a dish or product category. The platform then displays possible packaging materials and their properties. In the third step, restaurants can contact suppliers. According to Zomato, the network includes more than 100 verified suppliers in India.
The company emphasises that switching to more sustainable packaging cannot be achieved simply by replacing one material with another. Crucially, it depends on how well packaging handles the respective foodstuff and the conditions during delivery. For example, packaging for biryani must be able to cope with both steam and fat simultaneously.
Over 100 million orders with less plastic
PackSwitch builds on Zomato's „Plastic-Free Future“ programme. According to the company, since December 2024 more than 10,000 restaurants in over 500 Indian cities have been recognised for using alternatives to plastic packaging for their main dishes.
By 31 March 2026, the participating restaurants are expected to have delivered a combined total of more than 100 million orders using so-called „low plastic packaging“ solutions. With PackSwitch, Zomato now aims to further increase the use of such food packaging.
Source: Zomato
