The Wanderlust Chefs Embrace Reusable Solutions
Vital contributions to Australia’s economy, culture, and environment stem from small rural communities. Situated in Wonthaggi, The Wanderlust Chefs provide convenient, ready-to-eat meals that can be picked up in-store or delivered to your doorstep.
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.
A few years ago, some customers began bringing their own containers to collect their meals at The Wanderlust Chefs. Cassandra warmly welcomed this practice and encouraged others to follow suit. This sparked a community-wide dialogue on waste, with a consensus emerging that simply switching to single-use alternatives like paper-based or bioplastic containers was insufficient. Concerns were raised regarding the recyclability and compostability of these items.
Customer Response
Cassandra actively engaged with her customers, providing clear instructions on bringing clean containers and explaining how the bring-your-own (BYO) container system operated. Customers had the option to store their containers at The Wanderlust Chefs, and once their meals were prepared, Cassandra and her team would have them ready for collection or delivery. Alternatively, customers could bring their containers and have their meals served over the counter.
This system was easy to follow, and soon, the majority of customers joined the BYO container movement, generating overwhelmingly positive feedback for The Wanderlust Chefs. In fact, the restaurant is now running out of space to store all the customers’ containers, as many have purchased multiple containers and keep them in rotation.
The Impact
As a result, The Wanderlust Chefs now serve approximately 80 meals per day, diverting over 1,500 containers every month from ending up in landfills.
“It’s simpler than you think, and more businesses should adopt it. This will truly encourage customers to bring their own containers.”
– Cassandra, The Wanderlust Chefs
What Lies Ahead?
The Wanderlust Chefs are continually seeking new avenues to enhance their sustainability practices and involve their community in embracing sustainable solutions.
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