News

Anna recently joined a project group to raise awareness of product stewardship. Something we have been already doing and thinking about at Munch for the last 5 years, without really using the term. And something that Anna is very passionate to keep developing and experimenting with.

Product stewardship is about businesses taking responsibility for the products they make, sell and buy so their products don’t just end up in landfill. That means designing and making products to last, then putting systems in place to enable them to be reused and recycled when they are worn out.

‘SBN is leading Aotearoa Product Stewardship Campaign with a number of key businesses. It aims to raise awareness and increase the number of businesses involved in product stewardship’.

A group formed to focus on silicone products in particular, made up of a number of other businesses like Again Again, Wa Collective, Caliwood, ReusaBowl - and Munch - with more to come.

Munch is the first New Zealand collection point for a new pilot programme to repurpose silicone: Silicone Send Back.

As many of you know we chose to use silicone rather than plastic as a good alternative. The products that we use silicone for are:

• Munch ice pops
• Munch baby spoons (spoon only)
• Munch Baby silicone butterfly soother
• Munch glass drink bottle (sleeve only)
• Munch lunchbox (seal only)
• Munch silicone food covers
• Munch freezer bags
• Munch large feeding/storage tray (7 comp)
• Munch baby bowls
• Munch small feeding/storage tray (4 comp)
• Munch baby bib

Many of the Munch baby lines and the Munch Baby Shower products are made from Silicone.

The reason we choose silicone is because of its functional properties, these include thermal stability, durability, non toxic and elasticity. It is a great alternative to plastic. But the end of life of silicone products in New Zealand needs further consideration.

Currently in New Zealand there are no silicone recycling options. Even in the US, the recycling options are limited and are still in early stages. 

And the exciting news is that a pilot silicone processing facility is being investigated, as part of The Aotearoa Product Stewardship Campaign led by the Sustainable Business Network.

To avoid silicone products going into landfills right now, we can start to collect it and sort it.

Drop off any of unusable silicone products to our Refillery/Showroom at 471 Adelaide Road Berhampore Wellington.  If you are a Munch or nil products customer located outside of Wellington, let us know and you can be part of Silicone Send Back. We’ll send you a free shipping label to send it in to us and get it sorted for you.

Till next time.

Anna

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We are currently working with Island Bay Primary School on a 5 week sustainability education activity program which we started last week.

The children walk down to our Showroom from their school collecting rubbish along the way with their teacher. We start by looking at what they have collected and how we can dispose of the rubbish. We highlight that this is a little step that they can do to help protect the environment.

Our first session was on the concept ‘eco loops’ which is a good example of Product Stewardship.  Our key product that this concept showcases is our Munch Organic Beeswax Food wraps.  

• Material is Organic
• Made in New Zealand
• New Zealand material
• All 'off cuts' are turned into our Organic Fire Starters that we invented
• We collect old beeswax wraps and turn those also into our Organic Fire Starters
• The Organic Fire Starters are burnt
• The ash can be placed back into the earth to nourish the soil

We broke the groups into 3. One group chose their favourite Munch fabric to make a beeswax wrap and cut it into any shape they wanted. We had all sorts of shapes! Then that group were able to make their own beeswax wrap with Anna.

Then the second group made their own avatar - eco hero. They then drew their eco hero onto a badge to wear in the Showroom. While in the Showroom (and beyond) they become true little eco warriors. The badges were the 'off cuts' from our NZ made wooden display stands.

The third group made the fire starters and many took home a half a dozen to give to their parents.

At the end of the session we burnt outside a fire starter on the footpath. For those who are concerned about the safety of this, we made sure the kids were well away from the fire starter and we had water to put it out on hand. The kids loved watching the fire starter burn!

We had so much fun with the kids and we are looking forward to our next session with them.

Education is the key success to making a change. 

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NZ MADE DISH SOAP STIRS INTEREST

This month we have launched our New Zealand made plant-based soap bars.

We have removed all unnecessary ingredients and packaging to create a simple New Zealand made solid dish soap. 100% natural soap. Made in New Zealand.

✔️ NO nasties. NO detergent.

✔️ NO plastic bottles - 1 bar of Munch Dish Soap saves around four bottles of dish liquid!

✔️ Vegan friendly plant-based soap, made with coconut

✔️ GE free, cruelty free

One bar of Munch Dish Soap saves four bottles of dish liquid. No detergent means less bubbles so no need to rinse dishes - relieving you of this extra step! 

Munch solid soap bars have an ultra low impact on the environment. Natural soap is safer for our waterways and environment. Cruelty free and GE free.

“We are excited to launch another NZ made product this month!” says Anna Bordignon, Founder and Director of Munch. ”We’re all about helping Kiwis be more sustainable every day.”

You will find our Munch Dish Soap (and our Laundry Soap) at your local New World store, or order online direct from Munch here.

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LAUNDRY SOAPS LAUNCHED

Yahoo - we have finally launched our Laundry Soaps! A New Zealand made plant-based soap bar is out this month. These solid bars are made locally with natural ingredients making them a first for an NZ made solid bar in the laundry supermarket categories.

Go check out at your local New World. If they are not on shelf just ask one of the New World team.

Munch Laundry Soap have high cleaning power while caring for the environment and our skin. No nasties, cruelty free, completely natural and zero waste.

LAUNDRY SOAPS BY MUNCH

New Zealand ethical eco essentials company Munch has launched new completely natural Laundry Soap bars. They have removed all unnecessary ingredients and packaging to create a simple New Zealand made soap. All natural. No nasties. Cares for our environment and our skin.

The Munch Laundry Soap is tough on stains while being gentle enough for baby clothes and delicates. Low irritant. No added chemicals, no bleach. Just pure effective plant based soap.

Munch solid soap bars have an ultra low impact on the environment. Natural soap is safer for our waterways and environment. Cruelty free and GE free.

“We are excited to launch another NZ made product this month!” says Anna Bordignon, Founder and Director of Munch. ”We’re all about helping Kiwis be more sustainable every day.”

Munch has been making ethical eco essentials for the kitchen, laundry and baby categories for 5 years, saving over 800 thousand pieces of plastic in that time. 

Be a sustainability champion with Munch.

Try out our new Laundry Soap now!

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I am so pleased to bring on board Alex MacGibbon as my Sales and Marketing Manager. Alex is full of energy and positivism which I absolutely love and something many people don't have or have lost this spark. 

Alex is an experienced Sales and Marketing Manager and I am very excited to see how she will contribute to the growth of our brands.  She has already been writing many of our mailers (many have commented how great they are now - so it was not me but her!!).

Alex also has a strong interest in sustainability and has championed many sustainable events, advocacy and is constant source of knowledge in these areas.

I am sure many of you will meet her along the way. Welcome Alex!!

Nau mai

Anna B

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