Our Packaging

Very few people actually give a damn about packaging. But we do – and you probably do too if you’ve found yourself on this page!

Yoyo was set up because fundamentally, we believe we would not be in this waste crisis if businesses were responsible for the packaging they use.1

Despite various industry initiatives, the world is not on-track to tackle packaging waste and pollution. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation;

While elimination of packaging is essential, where possible, and recycling efforts will still be needed, to achieve a future where plastic never becomes waste, reuse systems need to be significantly and urgently scaled.

What is Reuse?

The definition of reuse is the repeated use of a product for its intended purpose without significant modification.

This concept is the basis of our business. Our food is sent in reusable packaging that you Freepost return to us to wash and reuse.

Our mission is to prove that reuse is the solution to our packaging waste crisis. This requires excellent hygiene, high return rates and commercial viability.

We believe if we can make it work in the highly regulated food sector, it can be done anywhere!

Why plastic is the best material for reusable grocery packaging

If you had told me when we started this journey that we would be using plastic to solve our single-use crisis, I wouldn't have believed you.

However, three years of delivering food in tubs, bags and jars made of glass, paper and plastic has given me insight that I didn’t have back then…

We believe specially designed polyethylene bags are the solution for groceries.

Below are some of the key considerations for our decision. In this table we compare how three solutions we have used stack up for 1kg of rice.

From cradle to grave, this data makes a compelling case for reusable polyethylene (PE) bags.

We’ve also resigned the label to reduce its carbon footprint. They’re also less sticky so they can be reused as labels on your jars or to reseal bags (but not ours, we want them back!).

What About Microplastic?

Microplastics are particles less than 5mm in diameter. Since we (thankfully) banned microbeads in cosmetics and various other applications, today most microplastic is produced from larger pieces breaking down.

Some plastic sheds easily, like polyester in clothes. These are loose fibres in a hostile (washing machine) environment.

The other common breakdown is exposure over time e.g. plastic in the ocean under the beating sun.

Our bags are made from HDPE, which only starts breaking down at 120°C.

Our design minimises edges (to make it easier to clean) and is optimised for strength.

There is a lot of misinformation about microplastic out there. But the science is clear. We would not manufacture these bags if we weren’t so confident.

One thing I have learnt is never ever cook food in plastic. Especially takeaway containers!

What About Bioplastic?

Using new materials is a big bet because of the unknowns.

A core issue we see with many bio-based solutions is that they often displace a potential source of food or a site for carbon sequestration or nature.

The Biocomposites we have tested had weaker mechanical strength and higher sensitivity to moisture. The necessity for strength is essential for reuse.

The potential for bio materials to pollute waste streams, or be recycled in existing waste management systems, also presents obstacles.

What About Compostables?

The problem with compostable packaging is that you’re taking something that is useful and valuable (a container) and degrading it into something considerably less valuable (compost) after a single use.

There is also a problem with composting in practice. With only 3% of UK households having access to a compost, it begs the question whether compostable containers are actually getting composted.

Arguably, compostables are better in landfill because they decompose faster. In the UK, however, we incinerate almost seven times more waste than we landfill. So again in practice, how much does that achieve?

There’s also the environmental and performance concerns I raised in bio-plastics. In our experience, compostables are particularly prone to failure. Anyone who has used a compostable bin bag will know this only too well!

Washing

We have a state-of-the-art laboratory washing facility to clean our packaging on site. We control the process end-to-end, with no compromises on cleanliness.

Doing the cleaning ourselves also keeps transport to a minimum which results in fewer opportunities for contamination.

Each bag is cleaned thoroughly between every use in a laboratory washing machine. This results in our packs being both microbiologically clean and clear of all allergen proteins.

We operate with a 5* Food Hygiene Rating from the Food Standard Authority.

Reusable Pouches For Liquid

Our oils are sent in reusable pouches. We are not able to wash these yet so whilst we develop that system, we are storing them individually for each customer ready for their next order.

Sending Your Order

We use cardboard boxes secured with recyclable Kraft paper tape.

Where possible, we reuse boxes that we receive food in with diligent consideration about hygiene and allergens.

Using Your Own Containers

While we're not set up for self-service, you are welcome to collect your order and will decant from our packaging into yours on-site, saving you the trouble of returning by post and the carbon footprint of washing.

Just leave a comment at checkout, along with your phone number, and we'll be in touch to arrange a convenient time.

You're also welcome to have a nosy around the warehouse. It's like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory for foodies!

The Packaging We Receive Goods In

We source as close to home as possible, and work in a closed-loop system with suppliers when we can. This means they take back the packaging that their goods are provided in for reuse – much like us. At the moment this is only possible with a handful of products.

The majority of our dried goods come in 25 kg paper sacks. Nuts, dried fruit and some seeds (items particularly susceptible to air) come in plastic bags. We recycle all of these single use bags.

Most of the boxes we receive get reused, which regular customers will be familiar with!