Are you trying to balance your restaurant company’s need for single-use menus with your desire to run an eco-friendly business? We know how it feels. Here’s everything you need to know about printing paper menus while still being environmentally conscious!
Using Single-Use Paper Menus: An Eco-Friendly Approach
Benefits of Single-Use Paper Menus
These days, many state and local governments have restricted indoor dining because of the Coronavirus, and others have increased the number of safety precautions that restaurants must use. One of the best ways to make your restaurant more Covid-safe is by using single-use paper menus. Since no more than one customer touches each menu, it is safer for both the customer and your staff. You can easily print paper menus in bulk, which cuts down on your production costs. Additionally, you can order your paper menus via your company’s custom web portal. There’s never been a better time to start printing your single-use menus!
Making Your Paper Menus More Eco-Friendly
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to make your single-use menu more eco-friendly! With new types of recycled paper and updated sustainable printing practices, printing is getting “greener” all the time.
Some of the best new eco-friendly paper options include:
- 100% Post-Consumer Waste Recycled Paper
- This can be coated (glossy or satin) or uncoated.
- You can get both text and cover weights.
- Sustainable papers made of alternate fibers, all created by Mohawk Renewal:
- Paper partly made of hemp, a quick-growing, low-impact plant.
- Paper partly made of straw and other agricultural wastes, using plants that would otherwise be burned.
- Paper made of recycled cotton, diverting thousands of pounds of clothing from landfills.
- 30% or 10% Post-Consumer Waste Recycled Paper, for a more economical choice that is still environmentally conscious
Be sure to work with an eco-friendly printer that offers various green paper options when you print your single-use menus.
Make Sure Your Other Practices Are Eco-Friendly
As you’re rolling out your eco-friendly single-use menus, ensure that the rest of your restaurant company’s practices are eco-conscious as well. For example, place a recycling bin in a convenient location close to your paper menu display so that they don’t end up in the landfill. This also gives customers a clear place to dispose of their menus and cuts down on clutter, so it’s a win-win!
Turning Your Dine-In Menu Into a Paper Menu
Wondering how to create your single-use menu? It’s easy! Be sure to work with a printer who knows the ins and outs of eco-friendly printing and who can design, print, and distribute the perfect environmentally-friendly menu. Here are three other important ideas to keep in mind when designing your paper menu.
Size Matters
First, choose a paper that works best for you and gives you enough space to include all the necessary information without overcrowding. The most typical paper menu size is a standard 8.5×11” sheet, either tri-folded, folded in half, or unfolded. At the same time, it is also important to note that smaller sized sheets are more eco-friendly and will save you money. Remember to use both sides of the sheet of paper to maximize the space you have!
Design Matters
Next, include your restaurant branding on your menu. Although it is a single-use menu, some customers will end up taking it home. For them, make it easy to order again by listing your name, address, hours, and contact information. And remember, your menu font matters! Use a font that lets your customers know what they can expect from their dining experience.
Organization Matters
Finally, organize your offerings into categories so that your customers can easily find what they’re looking for. If you have nightly or weekly specials, consider printing these on individual slips of paper and inserting them in the paper menus only when they’re being served. This will save a lot of space!
Partner With an Eco-Friendly Printer!
The Print Authority is a leader in the field of eco-friendly restaurant printing. The Print Authority runs on 100% renewable energy and prints on all paper stocks listed above.
Some of our other eco-friendly printing practices include using soy ink; recycling 100% of our printing plates; using plate machines that only produce nontoxic byproducts; and using digital printing, which has much lower power requirements, uses biodegradable toner, and reduces waste by at least 10%.
We expertly design and print everything restaurants need, from training manuals to job aids and more. We are ready to help you adapt to the current moment and print single-use menus in an eco-conscious way! Contact us to learn more.
