Ditters Recycling Guide
Many of us are more conscious these days of the environmental cost of Christmas gifting. Not only are we more mindful now of selecting presents that won’t go to waste, many of us also consider the way in which these gifts are packaged or wrapped.
The freshness and presentation of our products are top priority at Ditters, closely followed by the environmental footprint that our packaging leaves. For many food businesses like ours, it’s a close balancing act between packaging that maintains freshness and that which is eco-friendly.
At Ditters, we use environmentally friendly packaging wherever possible, if it is retail price effective and presents our products at their best for our customers.
Here’s a waste and recycling guide on how to process all our packaging, to help you with your post-Christmas clean up.
Ditters Gourmet Cakes
Box – Household Recycling
Clear wrap – Household Waste / Soft Plastic Recycling (check with your local council)
Gift Trays
Tray base and lid – Household Recycling / Repurpose
Adhesive tape – Household Waste
Dividers – Household Recycling
Brown Pantry Bags
Clear bag – Household Waste / Soft Plastic Recycling (check with your local council)
Paper Bags
Household Recycling
Gift Hampers
Box – Household Recycling / Repurpose
Red insert – Household Recycling
Clear bags – Household Waste / Soft Plastic Recycling (check with your local council)
Outer Packaging
Carton – Household Recycling / Repurpose
Brown paper padding – Household Recycling / Repurpose / Compost
Plastic Australia Post Satchels – Household Waste / Soft Plastic Recycling (check with your local council)
Delivery note – Household Recycling / Compost
What is Soft Plastic Recycling?
According to ABC News, soft plastic recycling is bing trialled again after the collapse of the REDCycle program in late 2022, but only in 12 Coles, Woolworths and Aldi stores in Melbourne. This new trial is being spearheaded by Australia’s Soft Plastics Taskforce. You can read more about their plans here.
Life REDCycle, the Soft Plastics Taskforce is a new small-scale recycling program in Victoria that has identified several potential end markets for used soft plastic. After treatment, the plastic could become an additive for asphalt roads, a replacement for aggregate in concrete, or a material for making shopping trolleys and baskets.
How to have a more eco-friendly Christmas
Many of us want to reduce our waste in general, particularly at Christmas time. A good place to start is by using eco-friendly Christmas wrap rather than the usual wrapping paper and sticky tape.
Here are 5 eco-friendly Christmas wrapping ideas to get you started:
Wrap your gift in uncoated paper and secure with natural twine instead of sticky tape
Wrap your gift in fabric that you already have and finish with twine or ribbon. Don’t worry if the edges are slightly frayed – this adds to the charm
Wrap your gift in a cotton tea towel (if your recipient needs a new one)
Repurpose a gift bag or hamper box that you already have
Sew up fabric bags in different sizes and re-use each year, or simply use pillowcases.
Finally, here’s a tip when using twine instead of sticky tape: wrap your gift on the diagonal so that the four corners of your uncoated paper or fabric meet in the middle of the gift. This will make it much easier and neater to secure with twine and you’ll still end up with a nice bow on the top.
Well, that’s well and truly a wrap. We hope this guide has been helpful to you as you sort and tidy your way to the new year!
• Welcome to Ditters •
Ditters is a family-owned, South Australian food business in Adelaide. Famous for finest quality nuts, gourmet fruit and nut cakes, glacé fruit, dried fruit, chocolate and gift hampers.