SUSTAINABILITY AT SCALE
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use our analytics to predict how much of each of those meals our customers are going to want . We can predict volume and location based demand , as well as which specific meals and diets people are going to order , and we can get very granular in terms of one ingredient vs another ,” says Wargocki , adding that this is essential , not only to ensuring the company can meet demand , but also its sustainability goals .
SUSTAINABILITY AT SCALE
There are a number of factors unique to the subscription-based meal kit delivery business model that impact sustainable practice . “ One of the major benefits of the meal kit subscription business model is that the amount of food waste we create is so much lower than , say , a grocery store ,” says Thompson . “ We track our wastage for each week and it ’ s in the low single-digit percentage of our total food purchase , which is really low . We try not to throw anything away that ’ s still usable . If we don ’ t manage to sell something to a customer , we ’ ll donate it to a food bank .”
Where meal kit companies across the industry run into problems , Thompson notes , is packaging . “ Each individual ingredient needs packaging , and then all those ingredients are put in a package together , which goes in a bigger box with ice and other insulation for shipping ,” he explains . While the issue is a hard one to get away from , Thompson adds that Sun Basket has taken some significant steps towards mitigating those issues .
“ All of our packaging is either recyclable or compostable ,” he says . “ It makes our job a little harder , because sometimes it ’ s difficult to find recyclable and compostable solutions that meet our needs regarding keeping food cold , but we really stand by our commitment that while it is necessary to have a fair amount of packaging , we do as much as we can to reduce its environmental impact .” Wargocki adds that , from a manufacturing perspective , finding ways to use recyclable and compostable materials in the manufacturing process continues to be an interesting challenge .
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS
Thompson reflects that , had things been different , the 2020 COVID-19 crisis could have gone in an entirely
135 manufacturingglobal . com