British meal kit retailer Gousto is trialling a new 'industry-first' edible stock cube wrapper in an ongoing drive to cut plastic use. The new packaging is made of pea protein and starch and is designed to preserve the food's flavour and shelf life much like plastic.
The new vegan and gluten-free wrapper was designed in collaboration with Xampla, creators of the world's first plant protein material for commercial use. Shoppers will be able to opt for these wrappers when ordering Gousto's Indian Spiced Carrot & Lentil Soup recipe between 6-12th November. Customers who choose the plastic-free option simply dissolve the vegetable stock cube in hot water.
The introduction is part of Gousto's ongoing work to reduce plastic packaging in its recipe boxes, something it achieved by 50% last year thanks to a switch to using more cardboard packaging and launching their Eco Chill Box, an insulator made of recycled cardboard to keep ingredients fresh.
Gousto CEO and Founder Timo Boldt said; "At Gousto, our purpose is to build products that have a positive impact on people and the planet and we invest in innovations that will help us get there. We are so proud of our Eco Chill Box and the significant amount of plastic we cut from our boxes as a result. This partnership with Xampla is another super exciting step towards reducing plastic packaging even further.
"We're excited to see what our customers think, and to continue paving the way for innovative sustainable solutions in our industry."
Find out more about Gousto here.