My Food Bag (MFB) co-founder Nadia Lim has spoken out about the importance of sustainable practices both at home and at work, revealing she strives to be more eco-friendly at both her food delivery service and in her own household.
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The Masterchef winner and cookbook author tells Newshub living sustainability is important for her and her family.
"It's simple - if we want to continue living in a beautiful environment and for our kids and grandkids to as well, then we all have to care," she says.
MFB came under fire by some customers last year, due to the number of plastic containers the food came in. At the time the company says they were planning to make changes in response to consumer concern.
Lim, who has implemented new initiatives for the company, told Newshub these changes are important to her.
"My Food Bag's business model is good in the sense that it helps to cut down on food waste (as you get just what you need) and we only order what we need," she explained.
"We do, however, have to keep investing in and improving our packaging solutions, which we are continuously trying to do. We could all do better in this space though!"
The company has brought in 100 percent recyclable boxes and all-natural Woolcool insulation, and are removing plastic windows from bags to ensure they're recyclable.
The company even has a special 'plastics taskforce' whose focus is reducing the use of plastic anywhere and everywhere in the business.
Kevin Bowler, My Food Bag CEO says the taskforce is made up of anyone from around the business "who wants to make a difference to the world we live in".
"Currently they are focused on our meat trays, which will soon become 100 percent kerbside recyclable. We are always looking for ways to improve and will continue to do so," he added.
"We're always working to create healthier communities in New Zealand and a big part of this is our continuous improvements in the sustainably space."
Mr Bowler says the improvements have come from the customers.
"We want them to know we are continually making improvements it's important to us, and we know it's important to them. We welcome their thoughts and feedback and will often use this to inform the work we do sustainability wise."
Nearly all produce (about 97 percent) used by MFB is sourced from New Zealand, and they've offered free range eggs, chicken, and meat since the launch five years ago.
Lim says she aims to bring more sustainable practices into her home life as well as work - not always easy with two young children.
"There is so much stuff marketed at and for kids, and the majority of it really isn't needed. We're not big on toys and I've found that Bodhi (my two-and-a-half year old) mostly loves 'playing' with ordinary things around the house like the vacuum cleaner and making stuff out of cardboard boxes anyway," she says.
"When he was younger we were part of a toy library so we never had to buy any toys, instead we just borrowed them every few weeks. It's a great way to do it; it saves you so much, means less stuff in your house, saves you money and there's no throwing out of old toys.
"With my second son, River, we're using reusable nappies 90 percent of the time I just couldn't bear the thought of filling our landfills with disposable nappies again."
Lim says making changes to live more sustainably in our home is about becoming more aware, and then switching to mindset where we don't need "a 10th of the stuff in our lives".
"We're led to believe that we need to buy, buy, buy, have, have, have, gift, gift, gift; but you come to realise that having more stuff doesn't make you any happier - I'd say it actually makes life less fulfilling!" she says.
"Creating habits is key - it takes a wee while to remember to bring your Tupperware and reusable cup into your favourite café to get your salad and coffee, use a plate instead of plastic wrap to cover food, and use reusable shopping bags, but very soon it becomes second nature."
Newshub.
