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Aiming to simplify the shift towards sustainable food packaging, Zomato has introduced PackSwitch, an interactive platform that helps restaurants identify suitable packaging options for different dishes and connect with relevant suppliers.
The platform follows a three step approach, allowing restaurants to select a dish, explore compatible sustainable packaging materials and access supplier information. It offers insights into the functionality, commercial viability and environmental impact of different packaging choices, along with recommendations tailored to various food categories.
PackSwitch also includes a directory of more than 100 verified suppliers across India, providing restaurants with information on available sustainable packaging solutions. The initiative seeks to address key challenges in moving away from conventional plastic packaging, including concerns around performance, cost, availability and end of life management.
Speaking at the launch, Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India, said, “The responsibility of protecting our cities from plastic pollution rests with each and every one of us. Sustainable food delivery packaging adoption by restaurants often stalls at good intentions because knowledge, awareness and products are not aligned. With Zomato's PackSwitch initiative, restaurants now have a tool that simplifies decision-making around sustainable packaging. I hope to see more restaurants use PackSwitch to transition away from plastic packaging paving the way for greener cities.”
Anjali Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Eternal Limited, said, “Sustainability is embedded in how we do business across Eternal companies. Over the last two years, we've invested in building consumer awareness through Zomato's Plastic-Free Future program which awards restaurants a 'low plastic packaging tag' on the app to recognize them for moving away from plastic to pack main dishes. PackSwitch focuses on building restaurant awareness through dish-led sustainable packaging information. Now the question - what sustainable material can I pack biriyani in? becomes a much easier one for restaurants to answer and find solutions for.”
As part of its broader efforts to reduce plastic use in food delivery, Zomato has been expanding its Plastic Free Future programme, under which more than 10,000 restaurants across 500+ cities have been recognised for adopting alternatives to plastic packaging for their main menu items. As of March 31, 2026, participating restaurants had collectively delivered more than 100 million orders using ‘low plastic packaging’.
The programme has also featured the Plastic Free Future Packathon, organised in collaboration with Startup India and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), to showcase innovative plastic free packaging solutions.
Sustainable packaging options available through Hyperpure, Eternal’s B2B supply platform, are also featured on PackSwitch. Restaurants that use lower plastic packaging can be identified on the Zomato app through the ‘low plastic packaging’ tag and filter.
