Now this is a development in pizza gadgetry I can get behind. Seriously.
Green-friendly packaging design firm ECO Inc. has come up with the Greenbox.
The lid is perforated into four sections that can be used as plates. Tear off a couple triangular strips from the sides of the remaining bottom and fold along the score, and you've got a half-sized rectangular leftovers box.
[Video of the box in action, and why it might not actually be recyclable, after the jump.]
While the eco idea behind the box is noble, it's been noted that pizza boxes aren't necessarily recyclable. Sure, corrugated cardboard in and of itself can be recycled, but any greasy gunk that gets on the box renders it unfit for reincarnation. So, in reality, using the lid as plates might actually taint a part of the box that had otherwise avoided contact with the pizza.
Then again, you could argue that using the lid as plates saves water and/or dishwasher power. But that just seems like six of one, half dozen the other.
So what to do with soiled pizza boxes? You could always compost them.
I usually do feel guilty about the pizza box thing when ordering a pie. But my take on this box design is that if you're going to get a box no matter what, this one is mighty convenient and will actually fit in the fridge once you transform it. [via Wired]
Agreed! And I should clarify here that my negging on the recyclability of the box should in no way reflect on its TOTAL CONVENIENCE. I'm probably one of the few people who does this, but I try to keep the bottom shelf of my refrigerator free so I can slide a whole pizza box in there. This design obviates that practice. I love it.
There's a sort of a pilot program in King County, WA (where Seattle is) with the municipal gov't handing out yard waste bins to each household. the composting project is IMPRESSIVE - you may dump in anything from kitchen scraps to lawn clippings...and soiled pizza boxes are on the list.
The waste is composted, packaged, and sold at local hardware stores the following spring. THAT is a well-thought out program!
Love this new box design, though. One less thing to pack for a picnic!!
"I'm probably one of the few people who does this, but I try to keep the bottom shelf of my refrigerator free so I can slide a whole pizza box in there."
this is one design i can get behind (especially since a lot of people already do this in a more haphazard way). great idea!
the thing that gets me about not recycling soiled cardboard in nyc is that they will ticket you if you put it in your regular garbage. people i know got a ticket for throwing out newspaper that their dog had shit on. that ain't right! love the king county program from teahlo, i wish KINGS county would do that.
Well, recyclable or not, I LOVE the box and would totally opt for it as opposed to it's far less flashy brethren. I hate having to store pizza because the box is just so darned big. Pizza boxes often get all greasy and unrecyclable anyhow, so why not use them in this way?
First thing I thought was that the recycling program here specifically states no food containers (that were in contact with food). I'm glad to cooperate with it, otherwise the curbs would likely become a stinky rodent and hornet fest, especially in the hot humid summers here, something I'm sure the refuse collectors would not welcome.
@mooner - I use super-heated plates. It keeps the pizza hotter. I live in NYC. It's all about the heat. That said, the cardboard is still a pretty awesome alternative.
@Slicemeister I guess I need my own fridge just for storing pizza, not just a shelf because according to Kenji at Goodeater.org I am a Pizza madman Extraordinaire:
Thanks for commenting! Your comment has been accepted and will appear in a moment.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it pleasant. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
Print
17 Comments:
i think this design is better than the sugar/creamer dunkin donut lid mentioned last week.
gastronomeg at 2:31PM on 04/23/09
Agreed! And I should clarify here that my negging on the recyclability of the box should in no way reflect on its TOTAL CONVENIENCE. I'm probably one of the few people who does this, but I try to keep the bottom shelf of my refrigerator free so I can slide a whole pizza box in there. This design obviates that practice. I love it.
Adam Kuban at 2:40PM on 04/23/09
There's a sort of a pilot program in King County, WA (where Seattle is) with the municipal gov't handing out yard waste bins to each household. the composting project is IMPRESSIVE - you may dump in anything from kitchen scraps to lawn clippings...and soiled pizza boxes are on the list.
The waste is composted, packaged, and sold at local hardware stores the following spring. THAT is a well-thought out program!
Love this new box design, though. One less thing to pack for a picnic!!
Teahlo at 2:58PM on 04/23/09
"I'm probably one of the few people who does this, but I try to keep the bottom shelf of my refrigerator free so I can slide a whole pizza box in there."
And you call me a pizza madman?
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 3:11PM on 04/23/09
@Paulie Gee: I thought you would enjoy the "Pizza Madman" sobriquet!
Adam Kuban at 3:14PM on 04/23/09
adam, you're not alone -i find they fit under my crisper drawer perfectly on that last shelf-lol. i keep it clear for that reason too.
gastronomeg at 3:23PM on 04/23/09
this is one design i can get behind (especially since a lot of people already do this in a more haphazard way). great idea!
the thing that gets me about not recycling soiled cardboard in nyc is that they will ticket you if you put it in your regular garbage. people i know got a ticket for throwing out newspaper that their dog had shit on. that ain't right! love the king county program from teahlo, i wish KINGS county would do that.
sloppy at 3:39PM on 04/23/09
@Slicemeister Did I say I didn't enjoy it?
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 4:01PM on 04/23/09
Alot of the "green" food tools I've seen so far seem either entirely pointless, or really incompetent. This actually might change that!
Amy
Baking and Mistaking
cool2bars at 4:23PM on 04/23/09
Well, recyclable or not, I LOVE the box and would totally opt for it as opposed to it's far less flashy brethren. I hate having to store pizza because the box is just so darned big. Pizza boxes often get all greasy and unrecyclable anyhow, so why not use them in this way?
chisai at 4:25PM on 04/23/09
@chisai: My point exactly! (And you used fewer words to get to it.)
Adam Kuban at 4:28PM on 04/23/09
Wow. Has anyone other than an Iowa housewife actually ordered pizza and used plates? Forks?? You eat it right out of the box!!! With your hands!!
MAYBE if you order deep dish. Maybe.
Mooner at 8:42PM on 04/23/09
The person in that picture is not a man. Not.a.man.
Mooner at 8:43PM on 04/23/09
First thing I thought was that the recycling program here specifically states no food containers (that were in contact with food). I'm glad to cooperate with it, otherwise the curbs would likely become a stinky rodent and hornet fest, especially in the hot humid summers here, something I'm sure the refuse collectors would not welcome.
chanterelle at 9:09PM on 04/23/09
@mooner - I use super-heated plates. It keeps the pizza hotter. I live in NYC. It's all about the heat. That said, the cardboard is still a pretty awesome alternative.
chisai at 9:34PM on 04/23/09
SUPER-HEATED PLATES!!! What's next?
It's PIZZA!!!
/Do you believe in magical pizza water, too?
Mooner at 10:36PM on 04/23/09
@Slicemeister I guess I need my own fridge just for storing pizza, not just a shelf because according to Kenji at Goodeater.org I am a Pizza madman Extraordinaire:
http://www.goodeater.org/2/post/2009/04/pizza-oven-lifestyles-episode-iiv.html
BTW, for those of you who haven't checked out Goodeater, I highly recommend it. It's been a real eye opener for me.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 8:14AM on 04/24/09