Sustainable solutions: Food boxes – friend or foe?

Food boxes have gained in popularity due to Covid-19. The fact that they were delivered during the pandemic meant you could limit your supermarket visits.

We were recently gifted a week’s trial of the Hello Fresh food box. While the food was delicious, the amount of plastic packaging used was shocking. The biggest item was a large cool pouch of debatable reuse potential while the meat, some cut vegetables in vacuum-wrapped plastic and an array of sauces came in packaging that, though recyclable via the soft plastic or regular recycling, had no reuse potential. Friends who are regular consumers of food boxes were equally concerned by the amount of packaging. I visited Zero Waste in NZ Facebook site for opinions on food bags, researched food box company websites and contacted a few. What follows doesn’t cover all the brands, but gives an idea of what to expect and ideas on how to reuse some of the waste. The Kai Box: Although nothing is currently listed on this company’s website about recycling, I had heard it did a good job of minimising waste and contacted them The WOOP food box directly. “We make every effort to use is heavy on plastic compostable or recyclable packaging where packaging. we can,” said a spokesperson. “We use brown paper bags for our dried foods and our spice and nut bags are clear cellulose bags, derived from FSC certified renewable wood pulp, which are home compostable.” The company stopped picking up used boxes during Covid but is talking to its couriers to see when this can be restarted. Recycling information will soon be added to its website and cookbook.

Hello Fresh: This company has high levels of packaging but says, on its website, that the box and the meal kit bags (including stickers and any cans) are recyclable. It doesn’t offer a return recycling service but the cool pouches are plant-based and can be reused and ice packs can be reused in a chilly bin or lunch box. The company suggests disposing of the water-based gel in general waste and recycling the soft plastic layer along with the plastic wrappings but, with limited outlets for soft plastic recycling in West Auckland, the majority will still go to landfill.

My Food Bag: This company has less packaging than Hello Fresh and couriers used to collect the previous week’s box, ice packs and ‘Woolcool’ insulation. The company website says: “The wool we use is 100% compostable and biodegradable. You can add it in your garden or compost as the wool will release valuable nitrates back into the soil.”

It also says: “We strive for circular recycling where plastics are used again and again. We’re constantly making strides towards reducing our overall environmental footprint and use fit for purpose packaging

so we don’t use more plastic than we really need to.” However, some consumers have commented on the number of sachets used (e.g. four sachets of yoghurt instead of one pottle) and also mentioned that a clove of garlic came in its own bag.

In correspondence the company advised that it is unable to collect any recycling for the foreseeable future, for health and safety reasons. However, it also says that it has reduced plastic use in its operations by 70% over the past few years. Foodbox contains minimal plastic packaging

WOOP: A friend who ordered a four-meal delivery for four people was shocked to receive, within the 35 items, 15 plastic bags, 16 plastic tubs and two gel cool packs. The company’s justification for the amount of packaging is “to prevent food waste by extending the shelf life and keep the ingredients fresh.”

Despite having the highest waste content of all food boxes, WOOP has the most to say on its website about its committment to reducing environmental impact, saying that 99% of their existing packaging is recyclable or compostable. It also maintains that each door-todoor delivery is carbon neutral as the carbon footprint is offset by planting trees. The company is currently trialling an initiative allowing customers to return their box (containing used and cleaned packaging and gel cool packs) with their next delivery. WOOP will sanitise and refreeze the ice pack for reuse while the rest of the packaging is sent to its recycling partners.

Foodbox: A friend recommended this company for simplicity and lack of packaging. The company is different in that it provides whole food, not organised meals, although they have recipe ideas on their website. The website also states its intent to only use packaging when required and gives consumers the option to choose unpackaged products.

Last year, the company was so happy with customers returning their chiller boxes that they removed the $6 chiller box deposit per delivery, and they continue to allow customers to return all other forms of packaging provided in their boxes. They appear to be one of the best options for minimal packaging waste.

To give some credit to these companies, they are all doing a good job of minimising food waste as meals are apportioned for the numbers the box provides for. Food is one of New Zealand’s largest waste areas so this is something that food box businesses have going for them

As part of recent legislation on product stewardship, food box

Linda CooperLinda CooperLinda Cooper Councillor for Waitākere Councillor for WaitākereCouncillor for Waitākere

Please feel free to contact me with Please feel free to contact me with Please feel free to contact me with issues or ideas issues or ideasissues or ideas 213 – 215 Woodlands Park Road, Titirangi, Auckland 0604 021 629 533021 629 533021 629 533 Phone: 09 817 8495 or 09 817 6188linda.cooper@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz linda.cooper@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz linda.cooper@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz www.kenturnermotors.co.nz