A reusable system with the potential to eliminate millions of single-use pizza boxes every year
In a country where 2.7 billion pizzas are produced each year, the environmental impact of disposable packaging is major.
If just 10% of pizza consumption were to switch to a reusable system, it would be possible to avoid 40.500 tonnes of cardboard waste annually, corresponding to 20.250–48.600 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
Against this backdrop, PALCOSCENICO, a reusable solution designed for the transport and consumption of takeaway pizza, announces that it has been awarded the Friend of the Earth Sustainable Packaging Certification. Friend of the Earth is a project of the World Sustainability Organization (WSO), which certifies products and services that meet strict environmental and biodiversity protection standards.
PALCOSCENICO is the first solution in its sector to receive this certification.
The issue with single-use packaging
The disposable pizza box market is driven by dynamics that prioritise price over quality:
- Materials that may not always comply with food safety standards
- Lack of clear information regarding manufacturers and origin
- Environmental claims that are often vague, unverified or misleading
- Consumers are left without real alternatives, forced to accept single-use packaging as the default option.
“Most pizza boxes are selected purely on the basis of the lowest possible cost, which leads to a significant environmental and cultural impact,” explains Armando Rizzo, inventor of “PALCOSCENICO, the innovation that was created to reverse that logic, offering a credible, certified and genuinely sustainable alternative.”
The solution: reduce, reuse and rethink habits
PALCOSCENICO removes the need for disposable packaging at the source by offering:
- A reusable, long-lasting product
- A substantial reduction in waste generation
- Materials suitable for direct contact with food
- A versatile system for transport, consumption, table service and cleaning
A clear ethical stance against greenwashing
Within the food packaging sector, the proliferation of superficial environmental labels often creates confusion rather than clarity.
“Ethics is not about claiming something is ‘biodegradable’: it is about proving it through verifiable evidence,” the company states. “This is why we chose certification: transparency, accountability and measurable standards.”
The Friend of the Earth certification confirms that the product complies with rigorous requirements for safety, performance, and sustainability.
Key criteria include:
- Sustainable sourcing of raw materials
- Resource efficiency
- Environmental management systems
- 100% recoverable packaging
- Plastic offsetting
- Social responsibility
“The growing relevance of certifications such as Friend of the Earth and Friend of the Sea demonstrates how essential it is to provide consumers and businesses with credible, transparent tools to distinguish themselves in the market. The Sustainable Packaging certification not only protects the environment, but also represents a competitive advantage for companies that choose to invest in sustainability, strengthening customer trust and enhancing the value of their ethical commitment,” declared Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of the World Sustainability Organization.
Changing the market by starting with consumers
Rather than addressing pizza makers alone, PALCOSCENICO places consumers at the centre of change.
By choosing to reuse and bringing their own container, consumers can directly influence food outlets’ decisions.
“If consumers demand reusable solutions, the sector cannot ignore them,” says the inventor. “Pizza is a national symbol: if it changes, it can transform the way we think about packaging as a whole.”
An Italian company leading by example
Achieving certification marks both a milestone and a starting point, inviting a broader rethink of the relationship between food and packaging.
“We believe this certification can open a new chapter in the story of takeaway pizza,” the inventor concludes. “It requires courage, transparency and collaboration. We are ready.”
