The plastic-free shopper
As the food and beverage industry grapples with ways to package its goods more mindfully and plastic-less, here are some of the heroes already making changes.
Nut cheeses
Made in Wellington, Terra’s tasty cultured nut cheeses come in a jar and are great spread on toast, in cheese sauce or pretty much anything, even in dessert. They are also certified vegan and contain whole cashews, purified water, New Zealand sea salt, probiotics, herbs, spices and are dairy-free. terranutcheese.co.nz
Pantry partners
Vogel’s new premium range of Hawaiian-inspired Aloha, and Kiwiinspired Aroha granola, $17 each, come in reusable, recyclable jars. vogels.co.nz
Pretty and purposeful
Ecoroll premium bamboo toilet paper is made using 100 per cent Forest Stewardship Councilcertified bamboo – each roll prettily wrapped for hygiene reasons – and it also eliminates plastic. Bamboo is a fast-growing renewable resource. There are 48 rolls in a carton and they come in six designs. Buy online as a one-off purchase or a subscription. ecoroll.co.nz
Joy in a jar
We are in love with Raglan Yoghurt’s new boysenberry flavour, which comes in a big 700ml jar size. Probiotic, dairy-free yoghurt packed with coconut goodness made in Raglan and carboNZero certified, too. raglanyoghurt.co.nz
Cool crunch
Hawke’s Bay apple company Rockit has ditched the plastic tube its snack-size apples were packaged in, in favour of a kraft cardboard pack. The cardboard is sourced from sustainably managed forests and is PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) approved. It’s 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable, too.
Back to the future
Goodbye plastic and hello glass jars. Cathedral Cove Naturals’ new look for their range of delicious cereals and muesli comes in new glass packaging that’s 100 per cent recyclable, or reuse the jars in your pantry. cathedralcove naturals.co.nz
Eco can
Aluminium can be recycled indefinitely, as reprocessing does not damage its structure, so it’s great Parkers Beverage Company of Napier have acted by offering an alternative to plastic bottles and launching eco can water in both still and sparkling varieties. parkers.kiwi
CarboNZero
Roasted in New Zealand’s first carboNZero roastery in New Plymouth, IncaFé Organic Coffee is packaged in compostable packaging. It sources its organic and Fairtrade coffee beans from selected growers in Peru and Sumatra. incafe.co.nz
Coffee fix
Again Again is New Zealand’s first reusable cups-as-a-service system, offering a way for coffee lovers to ditch single-use cups. It’s a takeaway coffee service where the customer pays a fully refundable $3 deposit when they order a coffee from a café that offers Again Again. againagain.co
Something to carry
Made from 100 per cent cotton and printed with non-toxic dyes, Salt Bags ‘Furoshiki’ reusable wrapping cloth bag makes shopping fun, and has multiple uses simply by folding and tying the cloth a different way. It can be washed without the fear of sending microplastics down the drain. They also take up less room when storing or carrying about. saltbags.nz
Good baking
The Ceres Organics home-composting crew is expanding – first they led the way with world-first, transparent, homecompostable packaging. Now you’ll be able to purchase your organic flour pantry staples in home-compostable packaging, too. Get your hands amongst it in the kitchen and garden.
Made from plants
Vitally Vitamins now come in plant-based packaging manufactured in New Zealand made from Econic Clear compostable films. Created from a blend of GMO-free corn sugars and wood pulp, the film breaks down in 12 weeks*.
Reusable wraps
Made from 100 per cent cotton, New Zealand beeswax, tree resin and organic coconut oil, Little & Kind reusable wraps can be used for covering food. Simply use the warmth of your hands to shape. After use, wipe using a cold damp cloth and mild eco detergent if required. littleandkind.co.nz
Something to smile about
Activated charcoal ecofloss is biodegradable, comes in a sturdy recycled glass dispenser for which you can buy refills. The floss is also vegan. do-gooder.co.nz
Ways to cut down on single-use plastic
· Take reusable containers to takeaway restaurants
· Take your own plate/container and cutlery to the food court
· Use a reusable straw
· Don’t get caught without a reusable water bottle and coffee cup
· Frequent cafés with cup libraries
· Reacquaint yourself with the wonders of baking soda, vinegar and lemons and make your own products (see pages 62-64)
· Save jam and pickle jars, and build a glass pantry
· Plant a lemon tree in your garden or a pot
· Learn how to preserve fruit Shop at your local farmers’ market
· Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic clingfilm
· A wet flannel does the same job as a disposable wipe
· Plant a vegetable garden and grow your own herbs in pots
· Buy in bulk wherever possible. Good places to shop include refillnation.co.nz goodfor.co.nz