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Microplastics – how often do you come in contact with them?

Microplastics – how often do you come in contact with them?

Microplastics: the buzzword of the moment. It’s time we learn about them. 

For nearly 20 years, scientists have been researching the potential harms of microplastics. While they don’t yet know whether or not it is dangerous for human consumption, they know it’s bad for the health of our planet. 

Meaning – we need to make changes stat! 

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The Ultimate Eco-Warrior Toolkit, from Real Life Eco-Warriors…

The Ultimate Eco-Warrior Toolkit, from Real Life Eco-Warriors…

The Ultimate Eco-Warrior Toolkit, from Real-Life Eco-Warriors (you guys!).

We hope you recognise some habits from your own household, and give yourself a pat on the back! It’s nice to know that you’re not the only one trying to make a difference. There are a huge army of families out there who are also taking small steps to help. 

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Eco kitchen tips for eco warriors

Eco kitchen tips for eco warriors

Your Home

A LOT of people are looking to make the switch to lead a more sustainable and environmentally friendly life. With so many products on the market, it's hard to know which is a brand to trust. Eco-friendly brand Munch have helped us with some nifty tips which you can take on board to make a difference in your own kitchen, without it breaking the bank.

Dish brushes

Get rid of that plastic dish brush as it will be with us on the planet for hundreds of years! Your great grandchildren will be digging it up from the ground - yuck. Replace them with an ethically sourced wooden dish brush. If that wasn't enough, you can also buy wooden bottle brushes, cup brushes and veggie brushes too.

Dishcloths

90 per cent of dish cloths contain microfibre which makes a complete mess of our waterways and prevents any form of breakdown in the landfill. So replace your common dishcloth with one made from cellulose cotton in the Swedish style, which can feature some cool designs.

Pot scourers

Get rid of those pot scourers made from microfibre or even steel (unless you have a recycling option for the steel) and say hello to natural pot scourers. These are made from cellulose cotton and sisal.

Dish soap and liquids

Our grannies use to use dish soaps for their sinks and Munch has recently released a dish soap that is 100 per cent natural. The benefit of a dish soap is that you are saving over six plastic bottles.

If you are already using a liquid dish soap and do not wish to change to a soap bar, at least refill your bottle. Munch have an online refillery

Bench top cleaners

There are plenty of brands on the market that offer eco multi purpose bench cleaners so lookout for one. Some are available in bamboo cotton which you can throw in the washing machine and reuse over and over again.

Beeswax wraps, cotton food covers and silicone food covers

Silicone covers are great for meat, cotton food covers for salads and beeswax wraps for everything except meat.

Compost bins

Grab a stylish compost bin to sit on your kitchen bench so you can easily put your left over veggie scraps into it. When it's full - or if there's anything particularly potent - put in your large compost bin outside. Contact your local council to see if you're eligible for a complimentary compost bin.

Food pegs/clips

If you need to keep food in packets then use stainless steel pegs or wooden food clips to keep it closed.

Food containers

Glass containers are the best option to store food in for long periods of time in the pantry.

Reusable produce bags

Consider organic produce bags, bread bags, and shopping bags as an alternative to plastic. 

Shopping lists on your mobile

Use technology to help you and the environment. Use your mobile phone to keep shopping lists or use Alexa or Siri.

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FAQ: How do we go back to school with zero waste?

FAQ: How do we go back to school with zero waste?

Starting back at school can be a busy time of year, for both children and parents! When things get busy, it’s easy to opt for convenience over anything else — and traditionally, convenience comes as a cost to the environment. A frequently asked question we get at the start of every year is “how can I send my kids back to school in the most eco-friendly way possible?”. We’ve got the answers!

How can I save money when going back to school?

If the bustle of getting ready for back to school isn’t new to you and your family, then chances are, there are old school supplies from last year lying around the house.

Perhaps it might be stationery, books, backpacks or lunchboxes — these could be reused, saving you the additional cost of repurchasing the same supplies year on year. Kids love to keep up with the latest trends, but that means more money and more waste! If you have a good rummage around, you’ll be sure to find school supplies from previous years that are too good to discard.

How do I minimise waste in lunchboxes?

There are always sustainable alternatives for items such as lunch boxes and bags which are long-lasting and kind to the environment – this is our specialty!

When shopping for a new lunchbox for the kids, it needs to be durable and sturdy. A great option is to consider lunchboxes with sections for different foods like our collapsible bento lunchbox or stainless-steel lunch box with built-in compartments. This removes the need to individually wrap snacks and sandwiches with plastic cling wrap that goes straight in the bin.

Alternatively, beeswax food wraps are another great sustainable and reusable option over cling wrap. Our favourites for lunchboxes are the apple print. Not only do the natural beeswax wraps keep food fresher, but they are locally made here in New Zealand by Munch’s very own home workforce of over 40 women. Employment can be inaccessible for a variety of reasons — so every time you purchase a sewn product from Munch, these wahine are able to work, obtain an income, provide for their families, and feel empowered. See how being conscious of the products you buy can have an overwhelmingly positive impact? Even a small beeswax wrap can make such a difference! If wraps aren't your thing, we have super easy beeswax snack bags

We have the perfect variety of containers and bags to keep snacks in. Try our Stainless steel lunch containers that come in a 3 pack. The 3 different sizes mean you always have the perfect sized container. For another snack storage solution, we have Litterless lunch wraps and Bags that are organic and fair trade. 

Pop these litterless alternative snack bags into a Munch Lizard lunchbox or Roll down lunchbag- lunchboxes that will last for years.

Thirsty? Say goodbye to single use plastic drink bottles that will take hundreds of years to break down. Welcome our Glass drink bottle and 500ml stainless steel drink bottle that will last you a long time while keeping your beverage hot or cold.

Our kids have to wear masks at school now – is there a reusable option that is also safe?

With COVID-19 being ever-present worldwide, wearing masks has become the norm. Now with government-regulated mask wearing for teachers and students in years 4-13, a protective mask is a necessary addition to the school bag.

Rather than disposable masks which end up in landfills, reusable cotton face masks with a three-layer filter system are an excellent option for daily use. This minimises the amount of waste produced while also offering more protection than disposable ones. Cloth masks have gotten a bad rap in the media, but be assured that it’s the single or two layer cloth masks that aren’t recommended — three layer cloth masks are the way to go!

A great sustainable option is #TheGoodFacemask, made right here in Aotearoa using locally designed fabrics printed on close-woven organic cotton. These masks are also made by the incredible women in our home workforce — protecting your little ones at school provides purposeful work for those who need it. Find out more here.

Getting the kids ready for the new school year requires a lot of preparation — but it doesn’t have to be a chore! At Munch, we’ve got everything you need to ensure the back-to-school frenzy is stress-free and ultimately kinder to the environment. Become a sustainability champion with Munch and check out our online store now.

 

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Making a difference

Making a difference

Sharing with you a little more about the steps we have taken at Munch, verifying the eco and social impacts we are making. Here we list some of the certifications we have received.

Since our establishment in 2014 we have naturally worked from a sustainable, social and ethical premise. 100% sustainable kitchens for the world. We celebrate all businesses that are trying to save our planet even if those steps are small.  We do not critique the steps that have not been taken yet as we just need businesses to start.

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