We love finding ways to reduce single-use plastics from our lives and something that often comes up is bread. Whether you’re a fan of rolls, sliced bread or classic sourdough loaves (one of our favourites!) more often then not they come in soft plastic, AND sealed with a plastic bread tag.
While the soft plastic and plastic bread tag can sometimes be recycled, did you know that in 2019 83% of plastic in Australia ended in landfill? [1] If you love bread but aren’t so in love with the plastic it comes in, there are two great ways to un-plastic your bread.
1. Use a reusable bag
Find a local bakery, cafe or even supermarket that allows you to choose your loaf and take it home in your own bag. Our Large Organic Cotton Bread Bag is perfect for this, but you could also use one of our Organic Bulk Food Bags to get your loaf from shops to home plastic free, or a pillowcase will even do the trick!
2. Make your own bread.
Ok ok we hear you. Who has time to make their own bread? But it’s easier than you think. Flour, water, yeast and salt is all you need to get started! There are so many great recipe ideas out there - have you tried Beer Bread or Brazilian Bread yet!? Those are our current viral bread go-to's.
With both of these options not only will you avoid the plastic packaging, you’ll also (bonus!) likely avoid lots of additional preservatives and additives that are found in supermarket bread.
We also find the purer the ingredients, the tastier and more fulfilling the bread is! We love supporting small local businesses in the Byron Bay area like Sunday Sustainable Bakery and the Suffolk Bakery.
Avoiding Un-wanted Food Waste
Bread can not only come in plastic packaging but did you know that it’s one of the most wasted food items? A total kitchen favourite with a short shelf life, it’s easy to see why!
Here are a few tips on how to extend it’s life and what to do with it if you find it’s gone stale:
- The best way to store bread is to keep it wrapped at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Our Bread Box and Mini Bread Box are both designed to look sleek out on display on your kitchen counter, and have a lid that doubles up as a cutting board! They both come in our stunning Oat Milk colour that matches our Compost Bins perfectly.
- If you aren’t going to eat your entire loaf of bread straight away, consider slicing and freezing on the day of purchase - our Giant Silicone Fresh Food Pouches are perfect for this.
- Did you know you can add water to stale bread and pop it in the oven to bring it back to life? If you haven’t tried this hack give it a go!
- If your loaf is stale you can cut it into slices, drizzle with olive oil and bake until golden brown - add salt and allow to cool and serve as crackers.
- We also love making Panzanella (an Italian bread salad recipe). It includes fresh tomatoes, herbs, olive oil, and of course - croutons! Simply dice your bread and add to a pan to fry with oil and seasoning for home-made Italian style croutons.
- You can make your own breadcrumbs by adding your stale bread to the oven or a toaster and blitzing in a blender with salt, pepper and herbs of your choice. Store in an airtight container and you’ve got breadcrumbs for whenever you need them!
- And let’s not forget the ultimate option for leftover bread...bread and butter pudding! Have you ever tried a savoury version? Add vegan cheese, milk, tomatoes, herbs and onions for a fun twist on a classic.
Remember bread is 100% compostable so if it’s way past its best, simply add it to your home compost or green organics bin, so it can be recycled back into nature.
Have we forgotten anything? Get in touch if you have a great idea or recipe that we can share!
