We pledge to remove ten pieces of plastic waste for every plastic pouch sold

Vital feedback from our customers 

Listening to you, our valued customers is key to the future success of our partnership. We were originally very excited to launch our paper packaging for our Hot chocolate and chocolate buttons products in 2023. However, since then, we have consistently received feedback from our trade partners indicating that the current paper packaging is prone to creasing and wear, compromising its durability and effectiveness as a strong-selling product.

As small business owners, we understand the need for attractive packaging and its role in the sales process. We’ve now updated the look and feel of our Hot chocolate and Chocolate buttons packaging design, which not only matches our new range, but also stands out on the shelf. We have also taken the challenging decision to use recyclable plastic pouches to avoid the wrinkling and potential damage to the delicious contents inside, which was previously the case with our paper packaging. 

Continued commitment to caring for the environment

This change is a step in the right direction for boosting sales appeal, and we’re excited for the impact this will have for our trade partners. However, we are resolutely committed to our guiding principles, in particular, our dedication to care for our environment. 

In terms of our packaging in general, we will continue to source the materials required from British companies in order to reduce our carbon footprint. We also package our products on-site in our York-based factory to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. Moreover, 95% of our packaging is recyclable at the kerbside, meaning your end customer doesn’t need to go to extreme efforts to ensure the packaging is responsibly recycled.  

So, what are we doing to restore the balance?

In moving towards recyclable plastic pouches, solely for our Hot chocolate and Chocolate buttons products, we understand we’re effectively adding to the ‘plastic problem’. According to the Pew Trust, the amount of plastic leaking into nature will triple by 2040. All existing government and industry commitments, if met, will reduce this by only 7%.

Whilst this all sounds incredibly downcast, there are positive steps we can take to reduce this impact. Here at Choc Affair, we have chosen to partner with plastic action platform, rePurpose Global, to reduce our plastic footprint. By pledging the sales of every single pouch of Hot chocolate and Chocolate buttons sold to our partners to rePurpose, we will be able to recover ten pieces of plastic from our global environment. We’re excited to report that we can track and trace the plastic we have pledged to remove using rePurposes’ reTRACE platform, and look forward to being able to share this data with you in the near future. 

Bolstering communities 

We’re also happy to report that by pledging to rePurpose, we’re also able to support social benefits for waste workers and their local communities. One of the greatest challenges with plastic recovery is creating the infrastructure required. Our pledge will contribute to setting up new material recovery facilities, as well as providing waste workers with health check-ups, PPE kits, safety equipment and sanitation facilities. The combination of pledges from both large and small businesses just like us, have helped to positively impact more than 10,000 marginalised community members each year. 

Continued support for Colombia’s natural and social environment 

We’re proud to source our cocoa beans from Luker Chocolate, which produces beans from three farms based in Colombia, which are located in Urabá, Huila and Casanare. We see this relationship as a partnership, and have directly financially contributed to an array of environmental and social support initiatives in the area over the years. This includes the development of a fermentation facility and voluntarily financially contributing an extra 5% per kilo of cocoa beans to support Luker’s initiative, The Chocolate Dream, with a special focus on ‘Chocokids’ and local reforestation. . 

Currently, it is reported that less than 2% of soft plastics in the Colombian capital of Medellín, are collected and responsibly recycled, instead ending up in landfills or incinerated in rural areas. rePurpose has set up Project Nuevo Ciclo in Medellín, which is a new waste management value chain, designed to enables flexible plastics to be transformed into recycled plastic lumber (RPL), also known as plastic wood or eco-wood. This wood is then used to build homes and schools for rural communities, as well as reducing the environmental impact of using traditional construction supplies. In pledging to rePurpose, we are able to continue to care for the environment in Colombia. 

Proactivity over compliance 

In our dedication to caring for our environment, we prefer to be proactive in our approach. By pledging to remove ten pieces of plastic for each Hot chocolate and Chocolate buttons pouch sold, we are aiming to model leadership for all businesses, no matter how big or small, on this very concerning issue. 

Discover our new Hot chocolate and Chocolate buttons packaging, and let us know what you think at customerservice@choc-affair.com.

Interested in becoming a trade partner with Choc Affair?

Get high-quality, sustainably produced chocolate your customers will LOVE. Find out more about becoming a trade partner, and all the benefits here: https://trade.choc-affair.com/become-trade-partner/. Or, complete the form below to enquire.