Meet the Maker: Whittingtons

💚 Introducing Whittingtons 💚⠀

We thought you might like to get to know some of our amazing local suppliers, so we had a chat with Michael and his team who supplies the most flavoursome herbs and spices…â €

Whittingtons have been blending fine herbs and spices in Perth Western Australia since 1975. We have our own farm at Badgingarra and source from other local farmers and suppliers in the Wheatbelt, coriander, mustard seed, some oregano, and salt. Products not locally available are sourced from around the world via a major importer.

We have had a strong working relationship with Wasteless Pantry for over six years. We both share a similar approach to being responsible citizens in the communities we serve and have a strong focus on looking after our customers, our suppliers, and our employees. Some of the initiatives we have undertaken as a responsible business include:

🌱To reduce our carbon footprint we have installed 23KVA of solar power at our Osborne Park facility.

🌱We are installing 20KVA of solar and wind electricity generation at our farm.

🌱We have purchased an electric delivery vehicle to minimize our transport emissions.

🌱To minimize food miles we source wherever possible from local farmers and plan to test grow some of our herbs on our own farm. (Waddi Farm, Koonah Road, Badgingarra.)

🌱We have reviewed our packaging and supply the vast amount of our products in recyclable containers of glass and PET. We are reviewing options to replace our PE packaging for bulk products with options that rapidly decompose.

🌱To minimize production spoilage and factory waste we have active programs to reuse materials.

🌱Out of Code products that are safe to consume are donated to food banks.

🌱We have a commitment to support people with disabilities. Two of our full-time employees meet these criteria. Up to twice a week, senior students from the Gladys Newton School in Balga gain work experience at Whittingtons. These are special needs children we have been helping since 2015. Prior to that date, we worked with Rocky Bay and the Disabled Workers Union lending financial support to people with disabilities.


Meet the Maker: Mette is Baking

💚 Introducing Mette is Baking 💚⠀

We thought you might like to get to know some of our amazing local suppliers, so we had a chat with Mette who creates our scrumptious gluten-free Nordic Crackers…â €

I’m Danish and I have lived in 6 countries. I am an Engineer and worked in the oil and gas industry for 25 years. I’m married to David, have 2 bonus kids and 2 granddaughters. I started Mette is Baking in 2015 and we bake Australia’s best crackers in my home-based commercial bakery (also know as the cracker bakery). Mette is Baking’s business model reduces waste and we only bake to order. At the end of a baking week, we have nothing left on the shelves to be disposed of. No crackers are wasted that way.

🌱 We have solar panels to power the bakery to reduce energy consumption from fossil fuel

🌱 All the lights in the bakery are using energy-efficient LED light globes

🌱 Water heating is turned on only for the hours required and we minimize water use by filling the dishwasher and washing machine fully before use

🌱 Bulk orders of Nordic Crackers are packed in re-sealable containers and we operate a container return system. When Wasteless Pantry gets a delivery we get the empty containers back to the bakery for cleaning and to be used again for the next order we pack. Some of these containers have been in rotation for 3-4 years now

🌱 We use Driving planning software to optimizing the delivery route. By spending less time on the road we keep our drivers safer, reduce fuel consumption, vehicle wear and tear, which reduces pollution and carbon emissions. Mette is Baking’s delivery vehicle is fuel-efficient and has all the latest safety technology to provide maximum protection for our delivery drivers.

I work with Wasteless Pantry because their customers requested that our Nordic Crackers be available in their store. Customer demand is a strong motivator.

One waste-free tip you have?

Separate out your waste. We separate the soft plastic and print cartridges for recycling. Bottle tops and cardboard tubes are donated for craft projects. Used hairnets are donated to the ‘Rare Fruit Club’ to protect ripening fruit from fruit flies.


Meet the Maker: Coastal Crunch

💚 Introducing Coastal Crunch 💚⠀

We thought you might like to get to know some of our amazing local suppliers, so we had a chat with Tim who makes our delicious protein crunch granolas…â €

I’m a chef by trade, trained in Perth restaurants, and post apprenticeship I did some travel and worked in the UK, France, and the US for a few years. Coastal Crunch originally started as a passion project and has slowly morphed into a full-time thing. We are interested in sustainability because it makes sense to try and reduce the impact and footprint of our business to help look after our little corner of the world. I believe that if we all look after our little bit then the bigger picture will look after itself.

We have converted most of our retail product packaging to recyclable materials. Our main retail granola packaging is completely recyclable and in the ready-to-eat space, our products are packaged in locally produced PET plastic that is able to be put into the yellow bin recycling. In the kitchen, we no longer use traditional plastic wrap and have converted a lot of our wholesale customers from buying 1kg bags into reusing 5kg or 10kg drums. We pick up the empties and reuse the drums which closes the loop and ensure we get many uses out of each drum. Lastly, over the past 12 months, we have been purchasing carbon credits through a registered program, to try and offset the carbon emissions of our business. Here is a link https://buff.ly/3kS9q1x that shows some of the carbon credits we have ‘retired’.

We work with Wasteless Pantry because we both share a desire to reduce waste and supply high-quality products to our local customers. We focus our business on WA and local retailers and Wasteless Pantry is a well-known outlet for shoppers that buy our type of products.

One waste-free tip you have? Buy secondhand or give something you already have a refresh. You will get enjoyment from the creative process as well as the enjoyment of something new at the same time. My partner has reinvigorated our home by breathing new life into some old furniture that would have otherwise ended up in landfill. It’s also much cheaper than buying something brand new!