Bruin Café now packs its sandwiches in eco-friendly paper wrapping as part of a cost-saving plan implemented mid-February.
The new packaging is made of recyclable parchment paper wrapping, said Jeff Berman, general manager for Bruin Café and a senior food services manager for UCLA Housing and Hospitality Services. He added the recipes or sizes of the sandwiches will not change.
The old clamshell sandwich containers cost about 78 cents each, while the new recyclable wrappers cost about five cents each, Berman said. He added in an email the savings help Bruin Café maintain its current prices, and additional savings will be recycled into the dining program.
Berman said the new packaging will also reduce the volume of trash. He added food presentation was another reason UCLA Dining Services implemented the change.
“Wrapping is also a more traditional style for serving sub sandwiches,” Berman said.
Janice Lu, a third-year psychobiology student, said she thinks switching to more sustainable materials would have been worth it, even if it had been more expensive.
“Tuition is going to go up anyway, so it (would be) worth paying the extra money to be more environmentally friendly,” Lu said.
Kelly Chan, a third-year biology student, said she thinks the switch is necessary for a school of UCLA’s size.
“I think it’s great they are starting to care more about (environmental) issues,” she said.