While recycling is important to reduce waste and environmental pollution, it can also lead to chemical contamination; this is of specific concern when food packaging is made from recycled material, because it can contain toxic pollutants.
Companies like Seed & Sprout founded by Sophie Kovic are leading the way to a plastic free future.
In 1997, Captain Carlie Moore discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive plastic soup floating in the Pacific Ocean, and became the first environmentalist to call for a societal shift away from “disposable” to reusable materials.
The time is now to explore and embrace alternatives to single-use plastic in our foodware. Together, we are shifting the system to make better choices for the health of humans, animals, waterways, oceans, and our environment.
Seed & Sprout, is currently grappling with substantial financial challenges. Founder Sophie Kovic recently divulged that Seed & Sprout suffered a loss exceeding $600,000 in the first half of 2023, compelling the company to seek borrowed capital to sustain its operations. Additionally, Seed & Sprout is burdened with a considerable debt of unpaid taxes.
Cassandra, the driving force behind The Wanderlust Chefs, is deeply committed to finding waste solutions for her business and community while catering to customer needs. Cassandra is no stranger to implementing reusable alternatives. Back in 2007, during her time at a café, she established a mug library where patrons could enjoy their morning coffee and return the mugs afterward for cleaning and reuse.
Wholefood Unwrapped Collective (WUC) began as a modest endeavor in Gabrielle's North Coburg residence, offering tofu, beans, and legumes. Initially, WUC operated as a community-based initiative through social media and garnered exceptional support from the local community. Customers enthusiastically embraced the concept, bringing their own containers to collect wholefoods and grocery items, thus popularizing the BYO container movement.