Last year changed everybody’s lives in a blink of an eye. Move forward to the New Year and most of us are still learning to manage this ‘new normal’ routine. Home is now also school and office for most of us. While the pressure from juggling this new norm routine is high, something else has also increased - single-use plastic waste from the higher demand of food delivery and takeaways. Community and government efforts to lessen dependency on single-use plastic containers and bags have taken a backseat as the reliance on food deliveries and takeaway increases. The sooner we realize this, the faster we can act on it. Here are 5 ways to help reduce single-use plastic waste:

1. Plan ahead, purchase ahead - Set aside 30 minutes to plan your menu for the week. If a week is too long, do a half week plan and plan again when it’s closer to the end of the first half. Planning ahead lets you decide which meals you want to cook and which meals you want to eat out or take away. You also have a better idea of what ingredients to buy which reduces food waste and plan which containers to bring to pack your fresh items like meats, fish etc. Not only are you lessening plastic and food waste, but you will also save money.
   
   
2. Save your favorites - When planning what to cook, you’re bound to see a recipe or dish that tickles the inner chef in you. Create a ‘To Try’ bookmark and save possible recipes and dishes under your favorites for an easy go-to when you’re out of ideas on what cook. Having new options to cook means you lessen the chance of you going for food deliveries and takeaways.
   
   
3. Eco- friendly deliveries - Your food arrives in plastic containers packed in a plastic bag and tied in a plastic zip tie. Everything is waste except for the food you ordered. There are restaurants and food vendors out there that are doing their part to reduce plastic waste by opting to use eco-friendly packaging. Sometimes it is mentioned on the delivery platform when you order, and if it isn’t you could do a quick search on the Internet to see if it’s there. You can also choose to forego plastic cutleries if you are eating at home.
   
   
4.  Bring your own Bag - Now, more than ever we need to practice bringing our own bag when we’re getting groceries or having takeaway. Even though there are compostable and bio-degradable options, using those still produce waste. The only difference is that they degrade faster. Ultimately, the goal is to not create waste.
   
   
5.  Choose to #TUPpao - When you plan your meals ahead, you can order delivery lesser. On days in your weekly meal schedule that you plan to not cook, you have the time to head to the restaurant or eatery to #TUPpao (takeway) earlier. This saves you money on delivery fees and helps reduce plastic containers when you bring your own #TUPpao container.

Introducing the first ever Tupperware Tup Tiffin, a tiffin to bungkus old habits away and welcome new ones that helps our environment. Inspired by the tiffin carrier from our grandparents’ time, the Tup Tiffin is airtight,  liquid tight, comes in vibrant colors and stacks up to 6 carriers at a time. Let’s reduce single-use plastic waste one Tup Tiffin at a time.