Commercial operations like shops and restaurants all need ice cream containers to store their products.
The type of packaging used is important, but so too is the question of what to do with empty ice cream tubs after your confection has been served to happy customers.
With protecting the environment a priority, it’s important for businesses to have a green agenda. It’s not only a positive selling point, but it risks damaging their reputation if they don’t have one.
For that reason, it’s vital to know what you can do with empty ice cream tubs.
Can wholesale ice cream containers be recycled?
If you’re pondering an answer to the question; ‘Can you recycle ice cream tubs?’, the answer is both yes and no.
Most wholesale ice cream containers are made from plastic, but not all of them are equal.
For them to be recyclable, they need to be made from a recyclable material such as food-grade polypropylene.
This is because ice cream is a perishable product and liable to lose its taste and texture if it’s not stored at the correct temperature.
How should wholesale ice cream containers be recycled?
In 2025, the Government is introducing simpler recycling.
In a nutshell, by March 31, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises in England will need to arrange for the collection of core recyclable waste streams with the exception of garden waste (glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, and food waste).
This will bring an end to what has become dubbed the ‘postcode lottery’, and intends to simplify recycling for businesses and households in their commitment to zero waste.
In practice, it should make recycling ice cream tubs a whole lot simpler.
Like all plastics and containers placed into recycling bins, they should be washed and rinsed beforehand to prevent cross contamination.
You can also wash and recycle the lids too if they’re made from the same material.
Can wholesale ice cream containers be reused to avoid waste?
Because polypropylene is one of the safest types of plastic used for foods including ice-cream, it offers a durable and sustainable solution for businesses.
This means that yes, they can be sanitised and reused until they are ultimately recycled when they become damaged or reach the end of their life.
What can be done with old ice cream containers?
Repurposing old ice cream containers is an environment-conscious way of ensuring they don’t just head the way of landfill.
If you invest in containers that are food safe, then you can re-use them for storage in your kitchen – for example for leftover food, as a container in which to place utensils, even as a pot for growing herbs in the kitchen.
Finally, if using them to store food, please remember that it’s important to label them clearly with the date and details of any allergens.