Natuur & Milieu is happy the doggy bag is becoming an accepted part of eating out in the  Netherlands, the organisation writes on its website.

According to the organisation 41% of diners are offered a doggy bag for surplus food at one time or another compared to 31% in 2015. The number of people asking for a doggy bag went up by 10%. However, 44% are too embarrassed to ask for one, the organisation found.

‘We are glad the doggy bag is going mainstream,’ marketing director Dorien Ackerman said. ‘But almost half of diners won’t ask for one because they think staff or the people they are with will think it strange. One in three is embarrassed to walk around with a recognisable doggy bag. It would be nice if people could just stop feeling embarrassed.’

Oddly enough the doggy bag fits in seamlessly with Dutch culture, Milieu & Natuur says. ‘66% of Dutch people were told by their parents to clean their plate when they were children and 85% claims to hate food waste. ‘So why the thrifty Dutch should be ashamed for asking for a doggybag is rather strange,’ Ackerman says.

Natuur & Millieu has declared today doggy bag day and calls on all diners to ask for a doggybag while restaurant owners are invited to put the doggybag logo on their menus to encourage punters.

According to the organisation 55,000 tonnes of food end up in the bin each year. Smaller portions and doggy bags can help prevent that, it says.