We know we use too much plastic and we know that we need to recycle more. Food packaging is at the top of a long list for single (and very short use) plastic that we dump into the ground every day.
40% of food packaging ends up in landfill; that’s equivalent to nine million tons of plastic packaging waste. 32% of this manages to leak out of collecting and sorting systems and finally ends up in the ground and ocean.
These numbers appear very depressing, but they also kick start consumers and brands into taking action and changing habits. We’ve looked at the food brands that are making a big difference to our planet.
Tideford
Tideford cook up a range of organic vegan soups, sauces and pestos that are all made in their kitchens in Devon. Everything is organic, vegan, gluten free, nut free and with no added sugar.
Alongside their delicious products, Tideford are launching a challenge to find an alternative to plastic. All their soup pots are recyclable already, and now they’re working with suppliers, experts and top universities to find a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way to get their soups, sauces and miso out into the world.
Whilst always trying to improve their own carbon footprint, they are also educating consumers on how they can live a heathy and sustainable lifestyle. From blogs on recycling your Tideford soup pots to build a bee house to music festivals and vegan fashion shows, Tideford are making many small changes with a big impact.
Pukka Herbs
Pukka uses an organic string to hold their staple-free and plastic-free tea bag together so tea drinkers can rest assured there is no plastic in their cup of tea and their tea bag is compostable as well as 100% biodegradable.
After four years of research and development, they are now rolling out a recyclable polypropylene-free envelope across their herbal blends range.
In 2017 Pukka began to map their carbon footprint, breaking down their total carbon output from ‘crop to cup’. Now they’re using this data to inform science-based carbon reduction targets and join global efforts to limit warming to less than two degrees.
White’s Oats
As part of their efforts to become a more environmentally responsible brand, White’s Oats have relaunched their Organic Jumbo Oats in a new recyclable paper bag. White’s are a member of the On Pack Recycling Logo scheme and the new pack carries a clear and unambiguous recycling logo on both the front and back of the pack allowing them to stand proud next to competitor brands.
Recently awarded Best Breakfast Product at the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards, the accolade recognises and celebrates outstanding products from UK producers alongside continuous innovative and cumulative efforts to acknowledge consumer concerns around provenance, environment and sustainability.
Ecover
Ecover is a Belgian company that produces ecologically sound cleaning products made from plant-based and mineral ingredients. They promote clean plant-based biodegradable ingredients, clean recycled bottles and a clean, zero-waste certified factory.
Ecover have pulled the plug on plastic packaging with their brand-new washing up liquid bottle, made from 100% recyclable plastic and re-designed cap that is made of 50% recycled plastic.
The contents of the bottle might interest you too. Ecover have worked with a Belgian beer manufacturer to put some brewery waste ingredients into their new washing up liquid. The formula includes at least 25% waste ingredients from the beer brewing process (water + ethanol). Sound tasty? I wouldn’t recommend drinking it.
Seed and Bean
Vegan and organic chocolate is on the rise but zero-waste chocolate can be a challenge to find. Seed and Bean uses organic ingredients and small scale suppliers to create bold and wild chocolate flavours and wrap their bars up in 100% compostable packaging.
Seed and Bean use packaging like Natureflex, a specially sourced, flexible cellulose film, crafted from eucalyptus wood pulp. As the first chocolate company in the UK to take this amazing zero-waste step, they’re miles ahead of other brands in the market. The chocolate inside comes in some fascinating flavours too. Choose from sweet orange and thyme or coconut and raspberry to tickle your taste buds.
WiDEYE
This British skincare brand refuses to turn a blind eye to waste. WiDEYE are proud to have a huge range of totally package free products, like bath bombs and sugar scrubs. Their other exfoliators, cleansers, washes and masks come in metal tins and they stock zero waste bars of shampoo too. Natural ingredients go into their products, so they don’t harm nature’s work in the process.
BOL Foods
A plant-based diet can cut consumers carbon footprint by 50% and BOL Foods make tasty plant-based ready meals to help busy people eat more vegetables and be kinder to the planet.
BOL jars have been designed to be 100% re-usable so when consumers have finished, they can fill them with something inspiring; be that a plant, popcorn or wishes. The brand promotes the reuse of these jars with suggestions on their website and the use of the hashtag #dontwastecreate.
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