The Workings of a Zero Waste Business.

Nearly everything we do as humans, in some way impacts the planet. HOW we do these things can define whether this impact is positive or negative.  I am on a mission to search out and expose planet-positive things that people are doing. I want to share the knowledge I find in the hope that it might inspire or help people. 

On this first step of my journey I paid a visit to Mitch Platt, the founder of Zero Waste Bulk Foods, based here in Walthamstow, London, to talk about the intricacies of what he is doing and how he is doing it.

Although refill and reuse are not new concepts, Mitch is redesigning the system to have true impact through scale and making use of the cutting edge technologies now available. 

This article is the full transcript of an interview that I filmed with Mitch (tidied up for your reading pleasure). Video’s to follow!

Mitch Platt in the Zero Waste Bulk Foods warehouse in Walthamstow, London.

GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT, MITCH.  

My name is Mitchell Platt or Mitch Platt, whatever you like. My business is Zero Waste Bulk Foods. We are an online whole foods grocery business that sells food in reusable packaging which customers return to us for reuse. Ultimately, our aim is to offer products and packaging solutions that not only minimise waste but also contribute positively to the environment and society as a whole. 

We're based down in E10 in the The Argyle Industrial Estate in Walthamstow, London. We also deliver to Walthamstow & Leyton on push bikes and our customers can pick up their orders if they like. We have quite a good local customer base and some as far as the Scilly Isles. 

We're a Grocery business if we were to categorise ourselves, but more specifically we sell whole foods, dried, non-perishable products so we don't do fresh food. We don't do anything that needs refrigerating. We do have household essentials as well like laundry liquid, cleaning stuff and toothpaste. 

When we look at products to offer, we're like, do you really need this? That's our kind of category. That's how we decide what we sell. That's where we stop.

TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED SO FAR. 

I took over the business in 2021 inheriting a system that was a great starting point and I have been developing through iteration ever since.

First and foremost, our focus lies on waste reduction, particularly in minimising single-use packaging through our reusable products. However, upon closer examination, we've realised that our current approach, predominantly utilising fabric bags, poses its own carbon-related challenges. 

When we zoom out from merely addressing waste and consider the broader impact on carbon emissions, a more nuanced understanding emerges. 

While materials like paper and cotton seem environmentally friendly due to their recyclability and biodegradability, their production processes contribute significantly to carbon emissions. The water consumption for growing trees and cotton cultivation and the short lifespan of paper bags raise concerns about their overall environmental footprint.
To have true impact a solution like ours needs to be scalable and our current system presents significant challenges in that area. While we've established a good rhythm, our operation is far from optimal and certainly not scalable in its current state.

The journey with our reusable packaging has been quite the challenge. 

Introducing a new behaviour, such as returning the bags after use, naturally comes with some apprehension and tracking these returns poses its own set of challenges.

The biggest problem we identified is the fabric bags that we currently use. They are not airtight, leading to frequent damage, shortening their lifespan and they come with a hefty price tag. Additionally, washing the bags proved more complicated than expected. Issues arose, such as the bags not being inverted during cleaning, leading to lingering dirt on the inner surfaces, and an unintended synthetic smell from laundry detergent, affecting the taste of stored food. The bags also require hot washing, which entails a considerable carbon footprint.

These challenges, though seemingly trivial, have added up over time. From tracking returns to managing the washing process, each aspect required careful consideration and problem-solving. Building everything from scratch in a green field environment also presented its own set of obstacles. However, by handling these tasks internally, we've gained invaluable insights and flexibility in adapting our processes. 

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SOLUTIONS

Having achieved significant success with our initial approach, evidenced by high packaging return rates, we're now expanding our focus to encompass broader environmental and ethical considerations. On top of the packaging this includes sourcing products locally to reduce food miles and prioritising organic options for their traceability and lower environmental impact compared to conventional alternatives. 

Despite the complexities, our approach has been fairly robust. While there have been nervous moments along the way, our in-house development has allowed us to navigate the challenges effectively. 

We've been diligently working on a new packaging solution, set to launch by the end of this quarter. We've relied on Royal Mail's return system to simplify the return process for customers and to streamline this process, we've developed a custom database and utilised no-code solutions like Airtable and Make. We believe these adjustments will address these issues and make our business more scalable.

Our newly designed packaging considers factors such as manufacturing location, recyclability, and carbon footprint. We aim to optimise durability and reusability to minimise resource consumption and waste generation. In light of these criteria, materials like polyethylene, commonly associated with plastic bags, may present a more sensible choice when considering their overall environmental impact. 

The new designs boast attributes such as lightweightness, and airtightness which is essential for scalability. What sets our solution apart is its uniqueness, particularly in the realm of flexible packaging, where rigid packaging dominates. 

Developing this new packaging hasn't been a walk in the park—it's taken two years of cutting-edge design and collaboration with industry experts. We're exploring the use of machine learning for tasks like detecting cleanliness levels. When we eventually partner with supermarkets, this technology will be pivotal and readily available. 

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY RESOURCES THAT HAVE HELPED YOU?

What instils confidence in our solution is the wealth of data available supporting the effectiveness of reuse at scale. Organisations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition have conducted extensive research, showcasing the commercial and environmental benefits of adopting reusable practices. These insights affirm our belief that this approach offers a viable solution to our current waste crisis.

 WHAT IMPACT HAVE YOUR ACTIONS HAD SO FAR? 

In terms of the data, last year we sent out 14,860 bags and received back 13,661. This is a 91.4% packaging return rate. So, in 2023, we managed to reuse a significant amount of packaging throughout the entire year. Even though this is probably equivalent to the number of bags Tesco sells per minute, we're immensely proud of this achievement, considering the amount of waste it has helped us save. However, when we look at it through the lens of new metrics, it becomes more complex.

We acknowledge that this current approach represents just the first step in our journey towards sustainability. Many businesses dive headfirst into ambitious projects, only to encounter insurmountable obstacles. We've taken an iterative approach, focusing on waste reduction thus far.

Our next version will adopt a more holistic approach, considering the entire lifecycle of packaging and its associated carbon footprint. 

HOW'S BUSINESS? 

Financially, it's challenging to gauge our progress precisely. As a young business, we're steadily growing, particularly following the launch of our reusable products. We experienced nearly 18 months of consecutive 10% month-on-month growth, transitioning from a modest beginning to employing full-time staff and securing external funding. We're now in an exciting phase poised for further growth and development. 

HOW DOES IT FEEL KNOWING YOUR IDEA IS WORKING? 

We're just getting started, to be honest. Right now, it feels wonderful because we're in a really good place. 

Reflecting on it, from an idea three years ago to where we are now, it's been quite a journey. I bought into this business during a challenging time, dealing with redundancy and long COVID. Taking over a business isn't easy, but it's important to acknowledge the journey, even though I'm not one to pat myself on the back often. I love what I do, the challenges it brings, from understanding customer behaviour to operational and technical aspects. It's where I thrive professionally. 

It's fulfilling to see our initial efforts paying off. Despite being primarily online, we've managed to foster a real connection with our customers. They send sweet notes, express gratitude, and it's truly heartwarming. To think that something conceived a few years ago is now enjoyed by thousands, it's truly amazing. 

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? 

I've always considered myself to be a conscious consumer, albeit not to the extent of living entirely off the grid. I own a car, a new mobile phone, and a laptop. I'm not trying to live in a cave. However, what bothers me is the lack of good options available to consumers. The prevalence of greenwashing and the pressure to make eco-friendly choices often leave me feeling frustrated. Supermarkets promoting plastic bag recycling as a favour to customers is a prime example of this disconnect.

My journey into this venture was driven by both personal fascination and frustration. I've been an advocate of refilling for quite some time and find immense satisfaction in avoiding plastic packaging whenever possible. 

One of the lesser-known benefits of zero-waste shops is the superior quality of the food, particularly items like nuts and dried fruit. This quality difference stems from the freshness of our products, unlike supermarket goods that may linger on shelves for months, we source items from recent crops, ensuring optimal taste and nutritional value. 

As someone who prefers online shopping over physical stores, I found it challenging to access zero-waste grocery options online. Recognising this gap, the idea for our business was born. 

For me, transitioning into tackling these issues felt like a natural progression. It's not about claiming to have all the answers or doing everything perfectly from the start. We're learning as we go, but at the core of our business is the mission to reduce waste and create a positive impact while ensuring people can still enjoy their lives. 

WHAT'S YOUR FUTURE VISION OF ZWBF?
We're not aiming to cater exclusively to a bougie, premium market with zero-waste options. Our goal is to make sustainable choices accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. We envision a future where even a single parent with four kids can afford and access our products. 

While we're not there yet, that's the direction we're moving in, taking an iterative approach to avoid creating unnecessary waste and problems along the way. By demonstrating the viability of our model, we aim to challenge the status quo dominated by reliance on local councils for waste management. 

The landscape for reusable packaging is evolving rapidly, spurred on by legislation like the EU's PPWR regulation. Although the specifics of such legislation remain uncertain until fully implemented, it promises to make reusable solutions more economically viable. The increasing demand from consumers, coupled with impending regulatory changes, indicates a promising future for reusables. 

The advancements in technology, such as affordable asset tracking and RFID, have revolutionised the feasibility of sustainable packaging solutions. Streamlined filling and washing processes will be necessary and the technology required already exists. 

What once seemed prohibitively expensive is now within reach, making sustainable practices economically feasible. We're enthusiastic about the scalability of our approach and the broader potential of the reusable market. 

Moving forward, we remain committed to refining our processes to ensure efficiency, affordability, and minimal environmental impact in our pursuit of a more sustainable future. 

THANKS MITCH!

If you are in the UK and want to try out Some of Mitch’s fantastic products and system, head over to the Zero Waste Bulk Food website : https://zerowastebulkfoods.co.uk/

All images and writing © Rua Acorn 2024