Every year on May 22nd, the International Day for Biological Diversity reminds us how vital the richness of life is to our survival. From oceans to forests and agricultural soils, every ecosystem relies on a delicate balance. Yet our production and consumption patterns play a major role in disrupting it. What if we took a closer look at a sector often underestimated: food packaging?

What exactly is biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species (animals, plants, fungi…), ecosystems, and genetic diversity they contain. It is the foundation of our food, health, and economy.

Today, more than one million species are threatened with extinction, according to the UN. The causes are numerous: land artificialization, pollution, intensive agriculture, deforestation… and also the accumulation of waste, especially plastics, in natural environments. Biodiversity is disappearing at an unprecedented rate—and our industrial choices are partly to blame.

Food packaging: what impact on biodiversity?

Behind a simple cup or tray can lie serious consequences for ecosystems:

• Plastic, omnipresent in packaging, takes hundreds of years to degrade. It chokes the oceans, poisons marine life, and enters the food chain.
• Paper and cardboard production, when not sourced from sustainably managed forests, contributes to deforestation and threatens natural habitats.
• Poorly managed waste often ends up polluting soil, rivers, or the sea.

Given these issues, food packaging becomes a tipping point between destruction and ecological transition.

Eco-design: a concrete and immediate solution

Faced with this reality, solutions already exist and are accessible to professionals in the food and hospitality sectors:

• Use alternative materials: unbleached kraft, bagasse (sugarcane residue), FSC-certified cardboard, wood from responsibly managed forests...
• Reduce transportation distances by choosing products made in Europe, limiting emissions.
• Ensure responsible end-of-life by opting for recyclable or compostable products that won’t end up in nature.

At Covr, we believe packaging can be functional, aesthetic, and biodiversity-friendly. Our wooden cutlery and plastic-free cups meet these criteria while offering professional and long-lasting quality.

Restaurateurs, how can you act for biodiversity?

Even at your scale, you can make a real difference:

• Choose eco-designed and certified packaging made from natural or recycled materials.
• Train your staff in proper waste management and the use of sustainable solutions.
• Raise customer awareness by highlighting your choices (stickers, signage, menus, Instagram stories…).
• Use the International Day for Biodiversity to share your environmental commitments across your communication channels.

In conclusion, biodiversity also begins with our everyday choices

Protecting life isn’t limited to nature reserves or international summits. It begins on the plate, in the choice of a cup, in every conscious purchase.

On this International Day for Biodiversity, let’s remember that responsible packaging is a meaningful action. For your customers, for the planet, and for future generations.