Compostable meat bags an NZ first

Fresh Choice could become first choice for meat eaters who are serious about the environment.

From today, all of Fresh Choice’s butchery vacuum-packed meat will be in compostable bags, including the labels.

The supermarket is also going one step further and offering a drop-off bin for return of the bags for anyone who doesn’t compost at home.

Fresh Choice Richmond owner-operator Gary Watson says it’s a New Zealand-first initiative.

“I’ve recycled for years,” Gary says. “But this is a step further. I’m excited about this.”

The shop is partnering with Greenwaste to Zero, a local commercial composting company where the bags will be taken from the shop for composting.

Greenwaste to Zero owner-operator Jason Wastney says all waste they receive must be certified compostable.

“We can’t take people’s word for it being fully-compostible,” Jason says. “You can’t tell from looking at the products because they still look like plastic. So, we can’t take rubbish from the public.”

He says there is a perception that bio-degradable materials are all compostable, but some are toxic and can break down into tiny particles of plastic.

“What we can’t see is the worry,” he says. “A lot of people don’t consider the labels, ink, and adhesive and that’s where it gets tricky.”

Gary says there was a lot of trial and error to find suitable labels and waiting for supplies, with Covid-19 also slowing things down.

“This isn’t a gimmick. We had sample batches done and some worked in theory but not so well in the reality of day-to-day life,” Gary says.

“I wanted to do this right. That’s what took so long.”

The adhesive needed to be compostable. The printing itself is burnt on so no ink is used.

Gary says plastic is a big problem and one they can’t fully control in the shop. Some items come already packaged with plastic.

While paper bags are offered in the produce section, there is still the need for plastic bags for lettuces.

Non-vacuum-packed meats in the shop are on recyclable trays.

For Gary, it was a bonus that Econic, the company that produces the certified compostable bags, is a family-owned New Zealand company.

“Customers will know the packaging is certified compostable by looking on the back of the meat and they will see the Econic name,” he says.

Gary and Jason say that the compostable bags shouldn’t be put into recycling bins as they would then have to be taken out and put into landfill.

The shop has so far committed to a 100,000-bag run.