Understandably many larger business cannot afford to be picky about there brand choices and stock but this should not have to be the case. Having monitored my workplace over the past few weeks, I have noted how we make a concious effort to produce less waste and manage it correctly.
As an organic shop, all fresh fruit and veg comes packed in waxed boxes that are designed to be flattened and returned to the producers for reuse.
Apple boxes are made from ordinary cardboard that is either used for customers, instead of plastic bags, or put in the cardboard bin for recycle.
Exceptions to the rule involve broccoli, which comes packed in with ice in styrefoam boxes. These, although highly toxic to the environment, are reused for email and phone orders that are later delivered to the customers houses.
As an organic shop, all fresh fruit and veg comes packed in waxed boxes that are designed to be flattened and returned to the producers for reuse.
Apple boxes are made from ordinary cardboard that is either used for customers, instead of plastic bags, or put in the cardboard bin for recycle.
Exceptions to the rule involve broccoli, which comes packed in with ice in styrefoam boxes. These, although highly toxic to the environment, are reused for email and phone orders that are later delivered to the customers houses.
Other aspects of the shop include a majority of the stock being sold in bulk instead of packets. All grains, flours, oats, nuts, herbs and teas come in bulk with bio-degradable brown paper bags as the packaging.
Along with this, customers are asked to bring their own bags as there are none available other than those that are donated or apple boxes.
For products such as honey or dishwashing liquids, which also come in bulk, there are reused glass jars from things such as jam which is sold at the shop.
Apart from being a grocery shop, out the front there is now a cafe that also uses the produce from within the shop and any bruised or blemished fruit and veg is used in the cafe side of the business, further dropping the chance of unnecessary wastage.
There is no reason this cannot be done on a far larger scale, if more production lines, especially in the food industry, choose to jump onboard this sustainable outlook and help contribute to this cause, which in the end will be our only option for a clean future.
Along with this, customers are asked to bring their own bags as there are none available other than those that are donated or apple boxes.
For products such as honey or dishwashing liquids, which also come in bulk, there are reused glass jars from things such as jam which is sold at the shop.
Apart from being a grocery shop, out the front there is now a cafe that also uses the produce from within the shop and any bruised or blemished fruit and veg is used in the cafe side of the business, further dropping the chance of unnecessary wastage.
There is no reason this cannot be done on a far larger scale, if more production lines, especially in the food industry, choose to jump onboard this sustainable outlook and help contribute to this cause, which in the end will be our only option for a clean future.