rPET Trial FAQs

We’ve pulled together some common questions about this trial.  You may have others, so please get in touch here. 

Alternatively, we’d welcome your feedback, to help us understand your likes or dislikes to help shape what we do next, via a quick survey here.

Q. Why are you changing the packaging?

• Actively measuring and reducing carbon emissions and our impact on the climate is a key part of Meadow Mushrooms’ sustainability journey and looking at how we package our fresh mushrooms is one of several initiatives we have underway.  An independent study we commissioned from Environment services consultants, Thinkstep-ANZ, assessed a number of options and it found that this trial pack, made from 100% recycled PET plastic with a recyclable soft plastic top, had both lower carbon emissions and the best circularity, than other suitable packaging – including our current cardboard punnet.  The full report from Thinkstep-ANZ can be viewed here.

Q. Why have you moved away from cardboard to plastic?

• Our plastic tray is made from 100% recycled PET plastic, also known as rPET, and can be recycled more times over than cardboard.  Thinkstep’s analysis has also validated that the rPET pack is the best option in terms of lower carbon emissions and circularity.
• Further, the soft plastic film used to wrap our cardboard punnets is not recyclable and its use will be banned in a few years.  After an extensive search, we’ve been unable to find an alternative that works with our cardboard punnet.  So, the soft plastic top of this new plastic punnet is made from a different material and can be recycled via the soft plastics recycling scheme.  Check for your nearest collection bin here.

Q. What’s so good about rPET?

• PET (recycling code #1) is one of the most used and collected plastics in NZ; but if it’s not recycled to make new products, it could be sent to landfill.  By using this collected PET to make new (rPET) containers we’re helping to create a circular system saving tonnes of plastic from landfills.
• Packaging made from rPET plastic has a lower carbon footprint taking less energy to create and recycle than virgin PET packaging.  

Q. Isn’t cardboard better than plastic for the environment?

• Thinkstep-ANZ’s independent carbon footprint and material circularity assessment has shown our rPET pack has 19% lower carbon emissions in its lifetime than our current cardboard packaging and is more circular, meaning that it has a greater chance of being recovered and made into new products saving natural resources.  The full report from Thinkstep-ANZ can be viewed here.
• Replacing just our White Button 200g prepacked cardboard punnets, for the rPET punnets, would avoid emitting the equivalent of 49,467 kgs of CO2 (carbon dioxide). That would take 406 [1]native trees 30 years to absorb that one year’s CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.

Q. Isn’t the cardboard punnet already recyclable?

• Yes, the cardboard punnet can be recycled, however most cardboard collected at the kerbside is sent overseas for recycling, adding to carbon emissions, and it cannot be recycled as many times as the recycled plastic tray.  rPET on the other hand can be recycled locally.

Q. What does this term circularity mean?

• Our society operates in a linear economy where we take raw materials, make things and then throw them away.  That’s not a good system.  Circularity, on the other hand, aims to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems.  For more on the circular economy visit The Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Q. What do mean by carbon footprint?

• A carbon footprint is a measure of how much greenhouse gases are produced by a specific activity or to make a product.  The lower the carbon footprint the fewer greenhouse gases have been produced and the lower the impact on our climate.

Q. Why not use compostable packaging?

• There’s a common misconception that compostable packaging is better for the environment than recycling.  Unfortunately, in NZ we do not have the infrastructure to deal with large volumes of compostable packaging – kerbside collection of any scale is lacking, and commercial composting facilities are few.  Interest in home composting is growing in popularity but is relatively niche and has challenges, meaning most compostable packaging ends up in landfills – where it breaks down to produce methane (a potent greenhouse gas) and leachate (a contaminated liquid that needs to be treated).

Q. Will the plastic punnet make my mushrooms sweat?

• Perforations, or holes, have been carefully placed in the top and bottom of the pack to allow the mushrooms to breathe and minimise condensation, helping keep the mushrooms at their best.

Q. Will you be changing all your packs to recycled plastic?

• We’d love to roll this out across our entire pre-packed range as a long-term sustainable solution, but first we’re starting with a limited trial to gain feedback from you, mushroom lovers, before making any decisions to scale things up.  Your feedback can be shared via a quick survey here.
• We will also continue to supply loose mushrooms for those who like to select their own or avoid packaging.

Q. Where is the recycled plastic tray made?

• Our recycled plastic trays are made right here in NZ, close by to our farm – so we’re supporting local and minimising carbon emissions from transportation.

Q. Why have you added a cardboard sleeve?

• The printed cardboard sleeve is just for this trial, to tell mushroom lovers more about it.  Should we move our whole range to this RPET pack later on, the sleeve will be removed, and key product information will be printed on the outside of the soft plastic top instead.

Q. Why have packaging at all?

• From our research, we’ve learnt that many prefer the convenience and added protection and preservation that our packs provide.  For those who like to choose their own or avoid packaging, loose mushrooms are also still available.

Q. Where are these new recycled plastic packs sold?

• As this is a trial, we’ve limited it to all Countdown stores within the lower North Island region, from Taupo south.

Q. Where can I recycle the empty packaging?

• The empty recycled plastic tray has a #1 recycling code, so is kerbside recyclable, as is the cardboard sleeve.  Check with your local council.  The soft plastic top is recyclable at your nearest soft plastics collection bin.  Check for your nearest collection point here.

[1] Calculated using https://www.tanestrees.org.nz/...