New Sustainable Packaging 7 March 2021 Woolcool Products Use Sustainable, Compostable, Recyclable Or Recycled Materials In line with our ethos, we strive to reduce our packaging and source sustainable solutions, whilst continuing to ensure that your receive your food in perfect condition. We are therefore pleased to announce that we will, from now on, we will be using Wool Cool packaging; 100% felted sheep’s wool which is washed in a natural process, scoured then sealed within recyclable industry grade micro-perforated polyethylene wrap. Their packaging is designed to reduce food waste, ensure your products arrive safely (and chilled!), is sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly. Woolcool has pioneered sustainable packaging. The 100% natural wool used in their liners is biodegradable and breaks down easily to release nutrients into the soil. It breaks up easily in seawater too. It’s also recyclable. But the next step in the evolution of sustainable packaging is going beyond recycling….to reuse. And once again, the ideas are flowing! We are constantly inspired by the brilliant concepts our customers and partners come up with to reuse their Woolcool wool liners. Check out #letsboxclever on social media and you’ll see the fantastic ideas the Woolcool family have suggested to find a use for our natural wool. We’d love you to get involved and show us how you have used your Woolcool packaging. Even if our wool ends up on a landfill, it will still naturally biodegrade within 6-12 months. All of the wool liners used are ethically and sustainably sourced, made from a natural byproduct. In addition to the new Woolcool packaging we will continue to add an ice pack with each order and use the fastest delivery services available. Frequently Asked Questions CAN I REUSE/RECYCLE WOOLCOOL? There are a number of ways you can recycle/reuse the wool liners including:- – picnic hampers – hanging baskets – cushion stuffing – Homework projects – Donation to homeless or animal shelters – Pipe lagging – Draught excluders – Protection for plants/trees from frost – Feeding roses and keeping slugs off plants – Keeping drinks/food cold on the beach – Pads for gardening If you aren’t looking to re-use the Woolcool Liners, simply remove the plastic liner, this can be put in with the standard plastic recycling, then just put the wool liner into either a compost bin (if available) or dig into the soil in the garden, as the wool will release valuable nitrates back into the soil as it breaks down. Some local authorities will accept the wool in household garden waste bins, it is just a matter of checking with the local council to find out what recycling facilities are available in your area. Even if the wool going into the general waste, it will break down in landfill. DOES WOOLCOOL SMELL OF WOOL? Questions around the smell are usually linked to worries about cleanliness and linking the smell to the toxins etc. Wool is washed and scoured to ISO standards to ensure cleanliness. We perform monthly tests to ensure it is completely clean and free of any toxins that can leach into food/pharmaceuticals. As with any material/object, man made or natural, it has its own smell. Typically if the Wool has been stored with other wool, it will smell stronger, but once it has been taken out of the initial delivery box, that smell will dissipate. To remove the smell we would have to add chemicals, which would negate our natural product and could potential damage the fibres. Of course, we love the smell, as what better way is there to prove our product is 100% natural?! HOW DOES WOOLCOOL KEEP CONTENTS COOL? Wool fibres are incredibly effective at absorbing moisture from the air which minimises humidity and condensation to maintain stable temperatures. The recyclable food grade wrap which encloses the wool in Woolcool is micro-perforated to allow the fibres to breathe and create the natural cooling system. HOW LONG WILL WOOLCOOL KEEP THINGS COOL? With ice sheets used to establish the cool temperatures for packaging foodstuffs, the Woolcool insulation has been proven to keep contents packed at 1°c, chilled below 5°c for at least 24 hours. DOES THE WOOL SMELL OR TAINT FOODSTUFFS? No. After the natural washing and scouring process, the wool only has a similar smell to a new, pure wool jumper! It is also sealed within recyclable, food grade polyethylene wrap to prevent contents coming into direct contact with the wool fibres. HOW MANY TIMES CAN WOOLCOOL BE RE-USED? This depends on the condition of the Woolcool after use, for example whether it has been ripped or if contents have spilled out or seeped into the insulation. If the Woolcool cannot be re-used as it is, the wool can be recycled and re-used or put to many good uses from lagging pipes to insulating garden plants from the frost! CAN I RETURN WOOLCOOL TO YOU, TO BE RE-USED? This is definitely something that we will be starting soon, so watch this space! Once COVID-19 restrictions allow, we will provide further information on how packaging can be returned!
