El Pollo Loco Inc. is ditching Styrofoam to roll out eco-conscious Thermo-To-Go packaging.

"El Pollo Loco is committed to enhancing the convenience and overall experience of off-premises dining, which continues to grow exponentially and currently comprises the bulk of our business," El Pollo Loco President and CEO Bernard Acoca said in a company press release. "Not only is our new Thermo-To-Go packaging better for the environment, but it's also sturdier and has an appealing aesthetic that showcases our delicious food while preserving heat and quality."

The transition to the Thermo-To-Go containers, which are made from partially recycled materials, will remove 1.9 million cubic feet of Styrofoam — the equivalent of 21 Olympic-size swimming pools — from the national waste stream annually.

El Pollo Loco's off-premises business has burgeoned since 2019, with delivery sales jumping by 250% and its drive-thru business growing by 43%. In the last year, the chain has introduced GPS-enabled curbside pickup, drive-thru enhancements and other improvements to its off-premises offerings as part of its ongoing digital transformation strategy; however, the pandemic-induced growth in off-premises business served as further incentive to accelerate the rollout of additional upgrades, including the move to better packaging.

El Pollo Loco has 480 company-owned and franchised restaurants.

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