OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING – CHANGES & NEXT STEPS
Our Bring It Back Jars Pilot is Concluding
In 2023 we launched our Bring It Back Jars pilot – an ambitious project to replace single-use plastic with reusable containers. We’d long sold returnable milk bottles, but this would be our first in-house deposit-return system.
While we knew that reusable packaging offers the best long-term sustainability, what we didn’t know was how customers would feel about the jars and deposit.
The answer was – mixed. Your feedback told us that some of you were enthused about the jars, while some people found the jars did not meet their needs. And, you told us with your wallets. Our dried fruit sales dipped. And, while we did get many jars returned every week, our overall return rate was less than we needed for the program to be successful.
Progress is seldom a straight line. We’re aiming for packaging that works for everyone: the most sustainable option that is feasible, with the least friction for you. So, we’re excited to try something new.
DRIED FRUIT IN COMPOSTABLE BAGS!
We are excited to try compostable bags from Elevate Packaging part of the growing effort to replace petro-plastic with materials of equal performance, but free of micro-plastics pollution. Sturdy & lightweight, these bags are a far better single-use option than plastic cartons – AND they’re home-compostable!
If you can’t do backyard composting Compost Now offers home pickup in our area. Even if composting just isn’t possible for you yet, these bags are still a step forward: even if landfilled, they won’t leave microplastics.
Thank you, everyone, for the invaluable feedback you’ve given us – we continue to welcome your thoughts!
Still have jars at home? We’re still accepting returns on deposits. Please bring your jars back to the store before August 31.