DO THE DRASTIC, REDUCE THE PLASTIC

DO THE DRASTIC, REDUCE THE PLASTIC

The year is 2015. Kloster Kitchen is still in its infancy, but the product is ready. The content at least. But then the question arises: what is the best way to package our delicious ginger shots?

The round begins: plastic vs. glass! 

LIFE IN PLASTIC, IT'S FANTASTIC ...? 

First, let's take a look at plastic. The practically non-existent weight is a real plus when it comes to drinks. But what's wrong with the lightweight bottle? 

Resource consumption:

Fossil fuels and other resources are required during production. This contributes to the depletion of natural raw materials and to the environmental impact caused by the extraction and processing of these materials.

Excursus: What actually is microplastic?

Microplastics are ultimately just small plastic particles. They are created by the decomposition of larger pieces of plastic or are used in products such as scrubs, cleaning products and textiles. Microplastics can end up in bodies of water and thus enter the food chain, which has potentially negative effects on animals and humans.

Chemical exposure:

Plastic can release chemical substances into the environment that can be harmful. This not only affects the environment, but can also affect the health of living creatures.

Longevity: 

Plastic takes a very long time to decompose. Some types of plastic can take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose. This means that once produced, plastic remains in the environment for a long time.

Environmental impact:

Plastic waste is a significant source of environmental pollution. It can end up in rivers, lakes and oceans and affect marine ecosystems. Animals can eat pieces of plastic and become injured or even die.

GLASS IS HOT

The old monastery recipe also played a role in the decision. The first bottle we found at a farmers' market was also made of glass. There are also other points in favor of the material: 

  • Production of glass bottles requires fewer raw materials
  • No microplastic 
  • Glass is 100% recyclable
  • Glass does not affect the taste 
  • Glass is heat resistant

So decision made: Kloster Kitchen Ginger shots are available in the fancy glass bottle!

UNTIL PLASTIC-FREE... AND MUCH FURTHER 

But then we found that that wasn't nearly enough for us. Just because our products are plastic-free doesn't mean we don't think there's just too much of it in the world. Especially in the oceans. So we set out to find a way to fight plastic. That's how CleanHub came to our attention. 

CleanHub is an organization that Plastic collects in coastal regionsso that it cannot get into the sea in the first place. The recyclable content of collected waste is sold, added to recycling and the Proceeds from the sale of social projects made available. Two birds with one stone, so - plastic does not get into the sea and social projects are supported. 

Convinced by the idea behind it, we have been a member of Clean Hub since August 2022. Since then, we have collected an incredible 1,255 kg of plastic (as of Nov 2023)! By August 2024, we have set ourselves the goal of breaking the 2,000 kg barrier and thus continuing to protect the oceans.

Did you know ...

Clothing causes 35 percent of marine pollution.

On average, a household flushes about one plastic bag full of microplastics into the wastewater every week - when washing. Most of our clothes are made of polyester, which is nothing other than plastic.

You can do this:

If possible, buy clothes made from natural materials such as (organic) cotton and wash them as rarely as possible. If the clothes are not dirty, it is often enough to air them out. There are also microplastic filters for washing machines - which will be mandatory in France from 2025.