HelloFresh will reduce ocean-bound plastic pollution by 1.6 million pounds over the next three years
By Kate Carnegie Media
GeneralToronto, 19th May 2021 — HelloFresh, the world’s leading meal kit provider, today announced it will set up three plastic collection centers in Indonesia as part of its ongoing environmental protection efforts. The partnership with social enterprise, Plastic Bank®, prevents plastic waste from entering the ocean by incentivizing those most affected to collect the materials in exchange for key necessities.
Over three years HelloFresh’s program will recover 750,000 kg of materials from coastal areas and support over 560 local low income families who will receive goods and services—be it food, clean water or school tuition for their children—in exchange for collections. The entire transaction is secured on their blockchain platform, which tracks every step of the journey, creating a credit history for improved financial opportunities in the future. The collected plastic waste is recycled and reintegrated back into the plastic value chain as Social Plastic® which is in turn manufactured into items such as bottles for household products through to clothing.
Sustainability is and always has been a fundamental part of HelloFresh’s operation. The meal-kit leader’s sourcing, packing, and shipping operations generate less food waste than the traditional food system, while customers who prepare HelloFresh meals at home discard less food while cooking and serving. In fact, HelloFresh became the first global carbon-neutral meal kit company last year. This latest project is in line with HelloFresh’s active responsibilities to communities and environmentally-friendly practices.
“At HelloFresh, we recognize our responsibility to the planet and to our community,” said HelloFresh Canada CEO and Founder, Ian Brooks. “We’re excited to step up our activity against ocean-bound plastic and positively impact the lives of those living in communities most affected by this critical issue. We’re doubling down on our existing sustainability commitments so our customers can be confident that HelloFresh is the right choice for you and for the planet.”
For more information, please visit HelloFresh.ca/about/packaging.
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