RePlated is on a mission to reduce waste with Australian-made reusable containers for takeaway meals.
Tell us a bit about what RePlated does.
Our business was founded on the desire to reduce the amount of waste Australians generate. Every day 4.5 million Australians order takeaway. That creates a lot of rubbish, which largely goes to landfill. That’s why we’re trying to change their behaviour. We encourage customers and food vendors to switch from disposable containers to reusable ones.
Our reusable containers are manufactured from recycled plastic that would otherwise end up in landfill. We use materials that would otherwise be waste and we reduce the amount of waste that takeaway creates. It’s a win-win situation!
We also offer support in setting up systems that make it easy to make the switch the reusables. We’ve seen in recent years that Australians have learned to take their own bags to the supermarket, thanks to a massive collective effort. If we’re going to succeed in our mission to reduce takeaway waste, we need the support of a wider network. Our business was founded on the desire to reduce the amount of waste Australians generate. We eat takeaway three times a week on average and RePlated wants to change that behaviour in one small way. We want people to take a container with, one made by us. It’s a pretty epic ambition.
Why did you want to become a B Corp?
As a business driven by an environmental mission, we had a strong desire to become a Certified B Corporation. We wanted to be able to demonstrate to our customers that our ethical approach is sound. Being independently and thoroughly audited shows that we are committed to making a difference.
Another reason for certifying is to have a framework for evolving over time. We are relatively new and certification will help to keep us on the right track as we grow.
Finally, in recent years Australians have learned to take their own bags to the supermarket, thanks to a massive collective effort. If we are going to succeed in our mission to reduce takeaway waste, we will need the support of a wider network. We hope that we’ll find like-minded people in the B Corp community who will support us in reaching our goals.
What makes RePlated unique as a business? Tell us some of the areas where you have the biggest impact, or some of the little changes you’ve made to make a difference.
RePlated lunchboxes are the only reusable containers made in Australia™. Our products are unique because they’re made primarily from recycled plastic. When a customer buys from us, they reuse plastic which would otherwise go to landfill.
More importantly, we help to end a reliance on single-use plastic. Disposable takeaway containers are a major contributor to our current waste crisis. In response to the existing linear economy, our business model is circular and designed for impact. To complete the circularity, we take our products back at the end of their usable life to turn them into new ones.
By manufacturing locally, we are able to see the process first hand. We know the people who make our products by name. These are some of the little things that make a big difference
Do you have any tips for aspiring B Corps about the certification process?
The B Corp certification process is surprisingly accessible for new start ups. It helped us double check our governance is set up in the best way possible. We are a better business in ways we hadn’t anticipated. We found putting down processes before we ‘need’ them enabled us to set intentions into action and the building blocks of culture. Be prepared for the process to take time, so patience is important. But rest assured that you’ll find the encouragement from B Lab very motivating and reassuring. We felt absolutely amazing and supported throughout the process.
A big congratulations to RePlated for achieving B Corp certification!
