Sustainable Delivery: How Blaze Pizza is Going Green

At Blaze Pizza, we recognize that delivering millions of pizzas across America comes with environmental responsibility. As the climate crisis becomes increasingly urgent, we're taking bold steps to reduce our ecological footprint while maintaining the exceptional delivery service our customers expect. From innovative packaging solutions to cleaner transportation methods, we're reimagining pizza delivery for a more sustainable future.

The Environmental Impact of Pizza Delivery

Before discussing our initiatives, it's important to understand the environmental challenges associated with food delivery in general and pizza delivery specifically:

• Transportation emissions: Traditional delivery vehicles contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
• Packaging waste: Pizza boxes and other delivery materials create significant waste, with most conventional pizza boxes being difficult to recycle due to food contamination.
• Food waste: Inefficient ordering and delivery systems can lead to unnecessary food waste.
• Energy consumption: Maintaining food at proper temperatures during delivery requires energy.

With these challenges in mind, we've developed a comprehensive sustainability plan that addresses each aspect of our delivery operations.

Our Eco-Friendly Packaging Revolution

One of the most visible aspects of our sustainability efforts is our complete overhaul of delivery packaging. Traditional pizza boxes present several environmental challenges: they're often made from virgin materials, they're difficult to recycle when contaminated with food, and they typically end up in landfills.

The New Blaze Pizza Box

In 2022, we introduced our reimagined pizza box across all locations. Key features include:

• 100% recycled content: Our boxes are made entirely from post-consumer recycled paper, saving trees and reducing waste.
• Grease-resistant design: An innovative coating prevents oil penetration without using harmful PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), making the boxes more recyclable.
• Minimalist printing: We use vegetable-based inks and minimalist designs to reduce chemical usage and improve recyclability.
• Right-sized packaging: We've optimized our box sizes to use less material while still protecting the pizza during transit.

Beyond the pizza box itself, we've addressed other packaging elements:

• Napkins: Made from 100% recycled paper and processed chlorine-free.
• Sauce containers: Switched from plastic to compostable plant-based materials.
• Beverage packaging: Transitioned to aluminum cans (highly recyclable) or plant-based bottles where possible.

Greening Our Delivery Fleet

Transportation represents a significant portion of the environmental impact of pizza delivery. We're taking a phased approach to reduce emissions from our delivery operations:

Phase 1: Electric Vehicle Pilot Program

In 2022, we launched our EV pilot program in five major markets: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Denver. This program includes:

• Fleet of 35 custom-branded electric delivery vehicles
• Installation of charging infrastructure at participating locations
• Driver training on EV operation and maintenance

The results have been promising: the pilot locations have seen a 68% reduction in delivery-related carbon emissions and a 22% decrease in operational costs due to lower fuel and maintenance expenses.

Phase 2: Expanding Clean Transportation

Building on the success of our pilot program, we're expanding our green transportation initiatives:

• EV expansion: Adding 150 additional electric vehicles to our fleet by the end of 2023.
• E-bike deliveries: Introducing electric cargo bikes for deliveries in dense urban areas where they're often faster than cars.
• Delivery zone optimization: Using advanced routing software to minimize miles driven per delivery.
• Carbon offsets: For conventional vehicles still in our fleet, we're investing in verified carbon offset projects to mitigate their impact.

Sustainable Sourcing: It Starts with Ingredients

True sustainability extends beyond packaging and transportation to the ingredients that go into our pizzas. We're working diligently to source ingredients that are better for the planet:

Local Procurement

Whenever possible, we source ingredients from within 150 miles of our locations. This reduces transportation emissions, supports local economies, and ensures fresher ingredients. Currently, 43% of our produce is locally sourced during peak growing seasons.

Responsible Agriculture

We're transitioning our supply chain to favor producers who use sustainable farming practices:

• Organic tomatoes for our signature sauce
• Cheese from dairies with humane animal welfare standards
• Meats raised without routine antibiotics
• Expanded plant-based protein options, which typically have a lower environmental footprint

Reducing Food Waste

Food waste is a major environmental issue, with roughly one-third of all food produced globally going to waste. At Blaze Pizza, we're implementing several strategies to minimize our contribution to this problem:

Smart Ordering Systems

Our proprietary inventory management system uses AI to predict demand patterns, helping store managers order just the right amount of ingredients. This has reduced our ingredient waste by 28% since implementation.

Food Donation Programs

We've partnered with food rescue organizations across the country to donate surplus ingredients and unsold pizzas to those in need. In 2022, we donated over 75,000 meals through these programs.

Composting

At locations where municipal composting is available, we divert food scraps from landfills. This prevents methane emissions (a potent greenhouse gas) and creates valuable soil amendments.

Energy Efficiency in Our Operations

Delivering hot, fresh pizza requires energy, but we're finding ways to reduce consumption without compromising quality:

• High-efficiency ovens: Our next-generation Fast-Fire'd ovens use 22% less energy than previous models.
• Renewable energy: 35% of our locations now run on renewable electricity through utility green power programs or renewable energy certificates.
• LED lighting: All locations have converted to energy-efficient LED lighting systems.
• Smart thermostats: Optimizing heating and cooling schedules to reduce energy consumption.

The Road Ahead: Our Sustainability Goals

While we're proud of our progress, we recognize that sustainability is a journey, not a destination. We've established ambitious goals for the coming years:

• By 2025: 100% of packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable
• By 2026: 50% reduction in delivery-related carbon emissions compared to 2021 baseline
• By 2027: Zero food waste to landfill across all operations
• By 2030: Carbon-neutral delivery operations

How Customers Can Participate

Our sustainability efforts are amplified when our customers join in. Here are ways you can help make pizza delivery more eco-friendly:

• Opt for group orders: Combining orders with neighbors or colleagues reduces delivery trips and associated emissions.
• Properly recycle packaging: Remove any food residue from boxes before placing them in recycling bins.
• Request fewer napkins/utensils: Our app allows you to specify exactly what you need, reducing waste.
• Share feedback: We're constantly looking to improve our sustainability efforts and value customer suggestions.

Sustainability Without Compromise

Some might wonder if all these eco-friendly initiatives affect the quality of our pizza or the reliability of our delivery. We're committed to proving that sustainability and excellence can go hand-in-hand.

Our sustainable packaging actually helps maintain optimal pizza temperature and quality during transit. Our electric delivery vehicles provide reliable, quiet service with fewer maintenance issues than conventional vehicles. And our locally-sourced ingredients often mean fresher, better-tasting pizzas.

In fact, locations participating in our sustainability initiatives have seen higher customer satisfaction scores and repeat order rates, suggesting that customers appreciate our environmental commitment.