In 2018 alone, our retail and catering departments used 2.2 tonnes less plastic packaging than the year before. That’s the same weight as an adult white rhino!
Eliminating single-use packaging
Customers at the estate farm shop can now purchase a number of dried goods in reusable packaging. A new self-weigh unit offers over two dozen different products, ranging from store cupboard staples like pasta and rice, dried fruit and nuts for home baking, or healthy pick & mix, through to chocolate covered snacks for those more indulgent treats. Customers can bring their own reusable containers, or use a paper bag provided.
Locally-produced milk can also be purchased in reusable glass bottles. The bottles can be returned for a 30p deduction from the customer’s bill.
Butchery packaging
We have introduced compostable bags for products on the butchery counter. This will remove over 100,000 plastic bags from use each year. Black polystyrene trays have also been replaced with PET plastic and aluminium alternatives. Aluminium can be recycled an infinite number of times. In fact, it has been estimated that 75% of aluminium that’s ever been produced is still in use today.
Hampers and online orders
We have removed all plastic bubble wrap and plastic tape from hamper production and online orders. Our plastic-free alternatives are made of paper.
Water bottle refilling
Visitors can ask for their water bottles to be refilled free of charge at any of our catering outlets.
Orange juice bottles
The estate farm shop has replaced the bottles it uses for freshly-squeezed orange juice, so that they are more easily recyclable. The new bottles, made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic are easy to recycle and are more lightweight. This will reduce our use of plastic by 431kg each year.
Carrier bags
Our gift shops and the estate farm shop replaced plastic carrier bags with a paper alternative. These can be easily recycled, or even composted, and pose minimal threat to wildlife if littered.
Disposable coffee cups
Our food-to-go outlets and the estate farm shop no longer use conventional takeaway coffee cups, which contain a plastic lining - we now opt for recyclable or compostable alternatives.
