Protecting the planet starts in the pantry

Former lawyer Anna Bordignon has turned her passion for sustainability into a plastic-free, planet-saving enterprise called Munch Cupboard. And her impact goes way beyond the kitchen.

Words: Bethany Plint

Anna Bordignon built her career practising law, but she had always been dedicated to sustainable living. Seven years ago, the pull she felt towards her passion for protecting the planet became so strong that she decided to make it her full-time gig. She left her legal role and launched Munch Cupboard, a business that hinged entirely on other people’s commitment to choosing sustainable products. It was a leap that has paid off in spades.

“Munch Cupboard is all about empowering families and businesses to change the world,” says Anna. “Even before the current plastic-free movement, I saw the damage plastic was doing to our planet. As a mother of three young children, I really wasn’t happy just sitting by.”

Today, Munch Cupboard is built around sustainability and eco-alternatives. The products – think drink bottles, beeswax wraps and reusable straws – are low waste with a low impact on the environment. Many are also biodegradable and home compostable. “I can proudly say our products have helped save more than a million pieces environment,” says Anna.

“Every year we deliver our annual Sustainability & Social Impact Report that outlines what we are doing to contribute to the betterment of the planet. It also offers complete transparency into our business to keep us accountable.” This transparency gives other businesses a clear view of what an environmentally conscious enterprise looks like, allowing them to see potential for positive change within their own practices.

As an entrepreneur and an environmental advocate, Anna believes it is every business owner’s responsibility to be accountable for the impact they’re having on the planet. “There are so many ways businesses can start to make a difference, from packaging to buyback schemes and other forms of grass-roots advocacy,” says Anna. Her company is currently working on introducing a silicone send-back scheme in Australia, whereby consumers can send back their silicone products for repurposing, rather than simply throwing them in the bin. The program has been successful in New Zealand and is one consumer silicone repurposing projects in the Southern Hemisphere. Every customer that participates in the scheme receives $10 off their next Munch purchase.

“It’s a great incentive to help the planet,” says Anna. “It’s all part of our product stewardship premise: we try our best to design and make our products to last (or make them with biodegradable materials), and then put in place systems to enable products to be reused and recycled when they are worn out.

“It’s not just a business for me,” she continues. “It’s a way of life, and something I see as being important for my kids – and all children – to see that adults are doing. As the saying goes, we have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children.”

Anna is excited at the prospect of larger businesses joining the movement and hopes that, with new policies and government support, even big supermarkets will begin taking steps to be more sustainable and rid the planet of unnecessary plastic.

“This type of activity is super important to all of us, and I think even small business owners like me need to be taking a stance,” she says.

“This is just the beginning. I urge even more people to start making a difference with their own business and home life.”

Browse Munch Cupboard’s full range of plastic-free, planet-savings goodies by visiting munchcupboard.com