Cyclops Yoghurt collects their containers!

Serra Natural Foods which produces Cyclops Yoghurts has announced that they start a new programme to collect Cyclops yoghurt containers for recycling directly from their customers in Auckland. 

Cyclops Yogurt container is polypropylene (plastic no.5) and is currently a non-recyclable item of Auckland City’s kerbside recycling collection. However, the company has decided to show their commitment to the customers and the environment.  Zero Waste Trust congratulates Serra Natural on this responsible initiative.

The following is the release from Serra Natural.

RECYCLE AUCKLAND

January 19, 2007

Cyclops Yoghurt is hoping the new year will be a greener one.

Jim Small, Managing Director of Serra Natural Foods which produces Cyclops Yoghurts, is hoping consumers and local authorities alike will put more thought into sustainable practices, and he’s started the charge by making it easier to recycle Cyclops yoghurt pots.

The company has started a new concept for a small New Zealand business; a recycling initiative with specific systems for collecting its own polypropylene plastic yoghurt containers set up in Auckland and Christchurch.

While polypropylene packaging is sought after by recyclers, most local councils have found the logistics of collecting more that just the PET and HDPE types of plastics too difficult at present.  And Cyclops have had to stick with polypropylene as the PET and HDPE plastics have proved unsuitable for the injection-moulding manufacture of Cyclops Yoghurt packing.

So rather than waiting it out for local authorities to extend their town’s recycling schemes, he’s set up his own system, which in Auckland will see a home pick-up service for supermarket bags-full of clean used Cyclops pots and lids delivered directly to the recycler.  This initiative will be monitored and adjusted if need be, then rolled out in Wellington and hopefully other cities later in the new year.  

Mr Small is hoping that taking responsibility for his company’s own plastics will kick-start more polypropylene recycling.  “Our customers have been urging us to find recycling solutions; but we’re also hoping it will be a catalyst,“ he explained.

“We’ve got the ball rolling; already some retailers are looking to set up polyprop recycling for themselves, there are school groups wanting to get involved, and another food manufacturer has already expressed interest in our system.  And it’s hoped councils can be encouraged to adapt their kerbside recycling systems to eventually take this form of plastic.”

While it seems like a great deal of effort to most, for Mr Small, recycling is just part of a sustainable philosophy that drives him and his innovative Christchurch-based company.  “Striving for sustainable business practices in manufacturing and delivering products underpins our approach to everything we do.  We want to leave the world the richer from our efforts, which is so much more than simply make yoghurt taste good – we have to assess the most ethical and environmentally sensible approaches, going the extra distance to source organic product, and to find creative solutions to tricky recycling issues.”

He also points out there is also the reuse option for the Cyclops pots if you can’t recycle – they make great reusable storage.

So if you want a really good New Year’s resolution, try looking harder at how your own household can recycle in a sustainable way and make a difference.

Auckland

Aucklanders can arrange the pickup service through phoning 0800-473-772 (4SERRA) or emailing .  Arrangements will then be made with the courier contracted by Cyclops, to collect up to three supermarket bags crammed as full as possible of clean used pots and lids (Cyclops only) from their home or workplace.  The collection will be within three days, so the courier can do other pickups in the area and avoid the excess emissions that would come from making a special trip.  Labels must be removed, or it will clog the recyclers machinery and/or end up in the waste stream.

About Cyclops yoghurts

Serra Natural Food products are designed to make people feel good about doing good. It uses traditional recipes and techniques, natural products, and wherever possible organic sources. Cyclops European style yoghurts are much thicker and less sweet than conventional yoghurts.  The resulting product appeals to a more adult palate and is now the preferred yoghurt of cafes and fine restaurants.   Serra Natural Food’s primary objective is to leave our world the richer from its efforts, using the most prudent and ethical methods in the manufacture and delivery of its products.   It encourages recycling and reuse, and will not use genetically engineered or modified products.  Serra Natural Food products are designed to make people feel good about doing good. 

Serra Natural Foods Limited
Freephone: 0800-473 772. Fax: 03 349 7062

email:

PO Box 16 358, CHRISTCHURCH  http://www.serrafoods.co.nz/