Plastic Free July: What you need to know about plastic and produce

When it comes to making planet-positive choices in the kitchen, reducing food waste and being mindful about the use of single-use plastics are two important ways you can give Mother Nature a helping hand. Plastic waste often ends up in our oceans, harming marine life, while food waste in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

In honour of Plastic Free July, what better time to explore some simple ways to ditch the single use plastics in your kitchen.

But before we jump into some easy, everyday tips, let’s unpack the use of plastic in the produce industry, and what you might find in your Wonky Box.

_{THE PRODUCE PLASTIC PICKLE}

When Wonky first started, we vowed to pull the pin on plastics. Witnessing plastic-wrapped veggies and fruits on supermarket shelves bamboozled us, and seemed like an unnecessary and irresponsible use of plastic. "Never shall plastic end up in Wonky Box!" we declared.

However, our journey soon revealed the complex relationship between plastic packaging, food safety, and shelf life - which posed a challenge to our mission. While there are better options for the environment, plastic is cost-effective, versatile, and can help produce move from grower to retailer and on to your door safely. In some instances, improper packaging can lead to MORE food waste, if the produce wilts and disintegrates quicker. 

Plastic packaging extends the shelf life of leafy greens by up to 10 days and a plastic-wrapped cucumber lasts 3x longer than an unwrapped one. It also protects delicate items like tomatoes and berries from squishing and is a barrier against external contaminants. Ensuring that produce arrives at retailers' and customers' homes fresh and unspoiled is crucial for growers to protect their reputations and livelihoods.

_{WONKY’S PLASTIC PLEDGES}

Our vision is a plastic-free future in the produce industry, and we eagerly anticipate advancements in sustainable options within New Zealand. Scientists are actively engaged in the development of biodegradable plastics made from renewable resources like cellulose, sugarcane, corn, and bamboo, and we hope that in time these options will become more affordable and accessible for growers throughout the country.

For now, our approach balances the need to keep your produce fresh and delicious, with our commitment to Mother Nature to reduce plastic use and keep our environment in tip top shape.

1. No Plastics Please: We ask our growers to supply their produce to us without plastic, unless it’s absolutely necessary for food safety or preservation. Since our wonky produce is headed to your door within 24-48 hours of arriving at our warehouses, it's super fresh and we can usually skip the plastic without compromising on quality. 

2. Responsible Packaging: Our Wonky Boxes are made from mixed recycled cardboard and sealed with paper tape that has non-toxic vegetable gum adhesive. Both are curb-side recyclable, or can be composted in your garden! 

You may notice a few extra packaging elements in our Fruit Box which we’ve implemented to protect your delicate fruity faves from being bumped and bruised:

1. NZ made chemical-free wood wool from the clever team at Purewood. It’s naturally air-dried, biodegradable and friendly to Mother Nature and all her critters!
2. Brown kraft paper - it is unbleached to keep chemical treatments to a minimum, and is recyclable and compostable.

3. ‍Choosing Sustainable Solutions: Instead of plastic wrap, we encourage growers to use compostable cellulose based wrap for any ready-cut veggies and where possible, we use brown paper bags to house small loose items instead of single-use plastic.

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_{EASY WAYS TO REDUCE PLASTIC IN YOUR KITCHEN}

Getting clever with your produce storage reduces the need for single use plastics AND helps prevent food waste. It’s easier than you might think: 

1. Store apples in the fridge: They last 8x longer than in the fruit bowl.
2. Keep carrots and celery crunchy: Store them in an airtight container in the fridge lined with a paper towel or dry reusable cloth. If they do start to wilt, revive them by standing them upright in a jar of water. 
3. Preserve leafy greens: Make sure they’re dry (moisture contributes to sliminess!) and pop them in an airtight container with a paper towel on top. Close the lid and store in the fridge. Replace the paper towel every couple of days as needed, and rinse the leaves only when you’re ready to use them!

Check out our 5 Hacks For Fruity Fanatics article here for more storage tips and tricks. 

We also love this poster from WasteWINZ, full of more easy swaps you can make in your kitchen to reduce your reliance on plastic. Print it out, get the kids to colour it in (or grab a marker yourself!) and stick it on your fridge for some easy access inspiration:

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What are your favourite ways to reduce single use plastic in the kitchen? Let us know in the comments section!