Where We’re at on Our Sustainable Packaging Journey

Sustainable packaging has been a central focus for us at Raglan Food Co since the very beginning of our yoghurt making journey. We were proudly the first yoghurt brand to package into glass – an excellent material as glass is infinitely recyclable and 75% of glass used in NZ is recycled here. And our glass jars also make for very handy storage containers too!

As we’ve expanded across the globe and looked to introduce more people to the joys of plant-based eating for a happier, healthier world we’ve needed to explore packaging outside of glass.

Recently, we’ve launched our Kids range along with our already existing Gourmet 400g range into FSC Certified paperboard packaging. We’ve made the change from glass to paperboard for our 400g range in part to create consistency across our gourmet sizes (our Snackable range has already been produced in paperboard since 2023 after needing a non-glass option for schools, meal delivery kits & export). It has also been important as we grow to ensure we have the ability to meet the growing demand for these products and others in our range to have manufacturing and packaging consistency.

We know this paperboard packaging solution isn’t perfect, as the thin PE lining needed for chilled yoghurt means it currently goes to landfill, but rest assured we are doing everything we can to roll-out a fully recyclable option as soon as possible! We continue to work alongside our supplier to find a water-soluble solution – as we believe this is the future. In the meantime, we have partnered with rePurpose Global on Plastic Neutral Certification, this means we fund the removal of at least the same amount of plastic we use—directly supporting projects in Indonesia, where our coconuts are grown – a big step in the right direction. Since 2017 we have also been removing plastic from our beaches with our 1 Million Pieces Project.

An interim packaging solution for two of our ranges.

Our 675g/700g flavours & our 500g Kefir range will remain in glass packaging, we know how much you love reusing these jars at home! Our goal is to show people that choosing plant-based yoghurt can be delicious and joyful, while also lifting the vibe in how we treat our team and run our business.

The move to FSC Certified paperboard for part of our coconut yoghurt range wasn’t taken lightly. There were several factors behind the decision, including:

Freight Impact

Glass is heavy and carries a large carbon footprint for transport. Many of the countries we export to also have much lower glass recycling rates than New Zealand.

Compostable Packaging Limitations
Major retailers advised us that they wouldn’t accept compostable packaging so that wasn’t an option for us. It’s also tricky with yoghurt being a high-moisture product that we would risk packaging breaking down before it’s enjoyed by our customers.
Plastic Alternatives

With New Zealand’s plastic recycling rate sitting at only 15–17%, FSC Certified paperboard offered a better option—sourced from renewable trees rather than fossil fuels. We’ve made the change from glass to FSC Certified paperboard for our 400g Gourmet range to be more in line with our 150g Gourmet Snackable range which has similar flavours, and to ensure we can meet the growing demand for these products.