The harms of non-recyclable packaging

jamesWe're all doing our best for sustainability and the environment. Yet two-thirds of packaging used in the UK is non-recyclable. And the amount of plastic waste we create continues to rise, clogging rivers and seas, filling up landfill, generating polluting gases and killing our wildlife. 

At Love Cocoa, we're working hard to reduce our environmental impact with plastic-free packaging and our Plant-a-Tree project. Here’s what we’re doing to reduce the harms of non-recyclable packaging. 

Why is so much food packaging non-recyclable? 

Did you know that we throw away a whopping 30kg of plastic waste every year? Water bottles, pizza boxes and individually wrapped fruit and vegetables all contribute to a growing mountain of non-recyclable plastic and cardboard. But why is so much packaging non-recyclable?

Well, it's a combination of factors, including poor labelling, lack of recycling facilities, and brands failing to do their bit for the environment. For example, packaging that features mixed materials, non-PET materials or coloured plastics can't be recycled and ends up in landfill. Or worse, it gets incinerated, releasing harmful gases and polluting the atmosphere.

And despite knowing the dangers of non-recyclable packaging, global plastic production trends show no signs of slowing down. As a result, we decided to take matters into our own hands, embrace plastic-free packaging, and make Love Cocoa a sustainable brand.

Sustainability at Love Cocoa

So how did we tackle the issue of non-recyclable packaging and sustainability? By seeking out plastic-free packaging and setting up our Plant-a-Tree project. So if you're looking for sustainable, delicious chocolate that you can eat guilt-free, check out our range of luxury bars and truffles.

How we’re doing our part for the environment with plastic-free chocolate packaging

All chocolate lovers know the Cadbury brand, but at Love Cocoa, we wanted to take things a step further. That's why James Cadbury created Love Cocoa — to create British chocolate with a conscience. It's a continuation of the Cadbury philosophy and ethical values that have been around for nearly 200 years.

We recognise what a huge challenge plastic packaging is for the planet. A single crisp bag can take a thousand years to degrade naturally, creating microplastics that make their way back into the food chain and into our bodies. We know microplastics are harmful to birds and aquatic life. And they can absorb toxic chemicals, increasing our exposure to them. The biggest culprit? Single-use plastics, like food wrappers and water bottles.

When we launched Love Cocoa, we knew our premium chocolate had to be ethical and environmentally friendly. That's why every handmade bar comes in 100% recyclable plastic-free packaging. We've even redesigned the shape of the bars themselves to reflect our commitment to being 'fair and square' in our approach.

So every time you buy your favourite flavours, like our award-winning Honeycomb Milk Chocolate, you know you’re making an environmentally-conscious choice.

Our Plant-a-Tree project 

In tandem with our efforts to reduce plastic packaging, we also run the Plant-a-Tree initiative. It’s simple. One bar = one tree. So every time you indulge in your favourite chocolate from us, you’re contributing to our tree-planting targets to fight climate change and deforestation.

We partner with Eden Reforestation Projects, an NGO that works with local communities to restore landscapes destroyed by deforestation. So every time you buy a bar, we plant a tree. And every tree planted creates jobs, combats climate change and protects ecosystems.

The project operates in Africa, where deforestation is happening four times faster than in the Global North. That means 40,000 square kilometres of land are being lost every year.

Unfortunately, cocoa farming is one of the biggest culprits, driving deforestation across West Africa as farmers cut down rainforests to meet the demand for beans. As a result, an estimated 28,000 animal and plant species are projected to become extinct in the next 25 years.

So far, we've planted over one million trees - twice our initial target. And we're not slowing down. Our project is helping cocoa farmers transition away from environmentally harmful farming practices towards sustainable production techniques. So whenever you buy a bar, and we plant a tree, you're contributing to real change in the way your favourite chocolate is produced.

Climate-positive chocolate from Love Cocoa 

There's no escaping from it — the choices we make matter, from the food we buy to how we recycle. According to the UN, about one-third of all greenhouse gases result from food production methods. But we can all do something about it. Moving to a plant-based diet, including our luscious vegan chocolate bars, reducing food waste and shopping with reusable bags are all small gestures that add up to a big helping hand for our planet.