Can packaging be fairer?
Together we're minimising waste with circular solutions, creativity and a good dose of teamwork.
we collect our packaging for reuse
Leave it out for collection with your next delivery.
That means your flat-packed boxes, cooler boxes, pouches and ice pack water bottles. Thank you! At Fair Food we’ve always been mindful of our collective impact and we're always improving and adapting our processes to minimise waste. From our returnable packaging that’s reused many times over, to our goal of a fully electric delivery fleet, we’re refusing, reducing and reusing from farm to warehouse to kitchen!
Cardboard boxes
Reused as many times as possible. It takes a lot of water and energy to make these simple boxes, so it makes a HUGE impact just by returning your box to us for reuse.
Flatten carefully and leave out for drivers to collect on their next visit.
Our new cardboard coolers
After a successful trial, our new returnable cooler boxes are here to stay, keeping your chilled groceries totally cool in 100% recyclable wood pulp.
Give the cooler back to your driver straight away or leave out for them to collect on their next visit.
Insulated pouches
Made in Australia from 100% recycled paper and newspaper, these are wonderful for keeping small items chilled.
Please open the tape carefully to keep these in circulation as long as possible.
Give the pouch back to your driver straight away or leave out for them to collect on their next visit.
Water bottle ice packs
Plastic water bottles, though a ubiquitous problem, remain quite useful in our context. They’re (almost endlessly) reusable as our frozen ice packs, and they’re long lasting, cost effective and widely recyclable.
We’ll keep looking to innovate, but until we find a better system we’ll continue using them.
If you receive refrigerated items with a water bottle ice pack, make sure you send the cooler and water bottle back for another round!
Phasing out white coolers
Since starting Fair Food, we’ve made use of our incoming ‘broccoli boxes’ and reusable polystyrene, all the while workshopping alternatives.
Excitingly, our new insulated cardboard coolers are here and we’re now phasing out our white coolers as they reach the end of their usable life.
Note – some large items may still require our tall ‘broccoli boxes’, which come in from the broccoli growers. If you receive one, they can be returned on delivery or left out for our drivers to collect.
Eco cellophane bags
Mostly used to pack our loose leaf greens, pine nuts and desiccated coconut, these plastic free bags are made from wood cellulose and are fully home compostable. They’re great to get fresh spinach and roquette out to you, but are too breathable for storage so transfer your leaves into a sealed container to retain freshness.
Home compostable.
*Update – Council FOGO / green waste collections do not currently accept home compostable packaging. Check with your local council as green waste services may change.
Twist tie packs
Restocking the pantry with our plastic free wholefoods is a simple way to cut out single use plastics from your weekly shop. All our bulk nuts, pulses and grains are packed in Detpak reusable paper bags which are fully biodegradable and council compostable.
Remove the tin-tie* before adding to your organics/green waste waste bin (depending on your council guidelines).
*The metal tin-tie is reusable and recyclable.
CERES Bakery bags
Our very own in-park bakery is the only bread in our range that sports paper packaging.
Compostable and recyclable.
Packing tape
We use plastic free tape if extra sturdiness is needed on our boxes or coolers.
Recyclable.
Perforated cardboard wrap
Fragile items, such as wine, eggs and glass bottles are protected with our in-house perforated wrap, which utilises waste cardboard coming into the warehouse and makes sure your groceries arrive safe and sound.
Compostable and recyclable.
Label and packing slip
Delivery labels and packing slips are full of handy info for our packing and delivery teams.
Currently the backing for these stickers and slips is a plastic product that can not be recycled, however we are in the process of sourcing new printables that are plastic free.
Packaging levy
Your contribution helps us to provide a full range of plastic free, compostable and returnable packaging that is future focussed and used many times over, including our cardboard boxes, eco-cello bags and insulated coolers and pouches.
Together we can deliver fresh quality groceries with circular systems that reflect our values and vision for a fairer future.
*The $1 levy applies to every delivery.
*‘Recurring orders’ paid upfront will include a $1 levy per delivery.
*The levy is applied to cart before delivery fees or minimum spend are calculated. 
soft plastics recycling
Reground
Working together for a greater impact
Since March 2022 we have been able to redirect and recycle all our soft plastics with thanks to the hard working Reground team. The soft plastics that we currently receive in our warehouse are collected and recycled into innovative new products. Diverting and utilising this resource instead of it ending up as landfill or ocean microplastics is a huge undertaking, and we are so appreciative of Reground’s incredible work as we work to reduce the plastic input we receive.
This is our current impact report from Reground:
Find out more about Reground here.
AoraCreo
Bringing bags back to life
Cesar is the mastermind and powerhouse behind Aoracreo, a brand that makes bags and wallets using upcycled soft plastic. He’s been working with plastics since 2011. While studying industrial design at RMIT he learnt a unique technique of ironing which allowed him to innovate and expand his range. Cesar collects the bright coloured plastics that our carrots and bananas come in to use in his bag designs. You can find his work online and at the CERES Makers and Flea Market. Thanks Cesar!
Some of Cesar’s designs
Find out more about Aoracreo here.
Keeping cool
Refrigerated grocery items are delivered cold in the following packages – all are for return and reuse.
After a successful trial, our new returnable cooler boxes are here to stay, keeping your chilled groceries totally cool in 100% recyclable wood pulp.
Give the cooler back to your driver straight away or leave out for them to collect on their next visit.
Made in Australia from 100% recycled paper and newspaper, these are wonderful for keeping small items chilled.
Please open the tape carefully to keep these in circulation as long as possible.
Give the pouch back to your driver straight away or leave out for them to collect on their next visit.
We’ll recycle or compost the pouches at the end of their life.
Sometimes a simple workaround is the best option, for now. Plastic water bottles, though a ubiquitous problem, remain quite useful in our context. They’re (almost endlessly) reusable as our frozen ice packs, and they’re long lasting, cost effective and widely recyclable.
Yes, we’ve thought about custom freezer blocks, fancy gel packs and all sorts of clever solutions – but right now those are fraught too while our humble water bottles serve us well. We’ll keep looking to innovate, but until we find a better system we’ll continue using them.
If you receive refrigerated items with a water bottle ice pack, make sure you send the cooler and water bottle back for another round!
Since starting Fair Food, we’ve made use of our incoming ‘broccoli boxes’ and reusable polystyrene, all the while workshopping alternatives. Which has been a huge challenge for us. Despite being a problematic material they’re exceedingly effective at keeping things cold, they function when wet, they hold lots of items we need them to and are particularly sturdy for reuse. Suffice to say, it’s been a long wait so thank you for your patience!
Excitingly, our new insulated cardboard coolers are here and we’re now phasing out our white coolers as they reach the end of their usable life.
Note – some large items may still require our tall ‘broccoli boxes’, which come in from the broccoli growers. If you receive one, they can be returned directly or left out for our drivers to collect.
our boxes
Fresh produce and pantry items delivered with thoughtful but minimal packaging.
Reused as many times as possible. It takes a lot of water and energy to make these simple boxes, so it makes a HUGE impact just by returning your box to us for reuse.
Flatten carefully and leave out for drivers to collect on their next visit.
Made from wood cellulose, these are fully home compostable! Mostly used for our loose leaf greens, these plastic free bags are great to get spinach out to you, but are not ideal for storage.
Remove your greens from the cello bag and transfer the leaves into a container to retain freshness. Bags will break down in council compost / green waste collection. They will also break down in a home compost or worm farm that’s working well.
Restocking the pantry with our plastic free wholefoods is a simple way to cut out single use plastics from your weekly shop. All our bulk nuts & grains etc are packed in Detpak reusable paper bags which are fully biodegradable and council compostable.
Simply remove the tin-tie* before adding to your organics/green waste waste bin (depending on your council guidelines).
*The metal tin-tie is reusable and recyclable.
Fragile items, such as wine, eggs and glass bottles are protected with our in-house perforated wrap, which utilises waste cardboard coming into the warehouse and makes sure your groceries arrive safe and sound.
Compostable and recyclable.
We use plastic free tape if extra sturdiness is needed on our boxes or coolers.
Recyclable
Delivery labels and packing slips are full of handy info for our packing and delivery teams.
The stickers on the side of boxes and coolers are paper and can be recycled or composted.
Currently the backing for these stickers and slips is a plastic product that can not be recycled, however we are in the process of sourcing new printables that are plastic free.
Looking for more storage tips to keep your fruit and veg fresher for longer? Find our storage guide here.
CERES Microgreens
Woiwurrung Country – Preston
0km from Fair Food
Growers: Jess and Nina
Growing: Pea shoots and radish shoots
How: Certified organic, regenerative practices, biointensive, social enterprise
CERES Organic Bakery
Woiwurrung Country – Brunswick East
7km from Fair Food
Maker: Alex
Making: Sourdough loaves
Using: Certified organic ingredients
Packaging: Compostable and recyclable
CERES Joe's Market Garden
Woiwurrung Country – Coburg
6km from Fair Food
Growers: Emily
Growing: Greens, herbs, flowers, carrots, radishes, zucchinis, fennel, tomatoes, Lebanese cucumbers
How: Certified organic, regenerative practices, social enterprise
