Recycling Raw & Fresh Packaging
Pet owners today care about more than just what goes into their dog’s bowl, they also care about the environmental impact of how that food arrives at their door. At Raw & Fresh, we know sustainability matters, which is why we’ve made it a priority to use eco-friendly, recyclable packaging wherever possible.
Our packaging is designed to keep your pet’s food safe, fresh, and cold during delivery while giving you options to reuse, recycle, or responsibly dispose of each part. From cardboard delivery boxes to gel ice packs and soft plastic wraps, every component has been carefully chosen to reduce waste and make a smaller footprint.
Instead of the old model of reusing the same boxes again and again, we’ve invested in fully recyclable packaging materials that can be handled easily through household or soft-plastic recycling systems. This makes it simple for our customers to recycle pet food packaging at home without the hassle.
By choosing Raw & Fresh, you’re not only giving your pet a healthier diet, you’re also supporting a company that takes its environmental responsibility seriously.
Recycling Cardboard Delivery Boxes
Every Raw & Fresh order arrives in a sturdy cardboard delivery box designed to protect your pet’s meals during transport. The good news? These boxes are 100% recyclable and can be placed straight into your kerbside recycling bin at home.
If you prefer to reuse them first, they’re also handy around the house — whether it’s for storage, moving, craft projects with the kids, or even as a makeshift cat playhouse (we know how much cats love boxes!).
To further reduce waste, we encourage customers to consolidate their orders. For example, instead of having a week’s worth of food delivered every week, consider ordering a month’s worth in one delivery. Fewer deliveries mean fewer boxes used, less packaging overall, and a smaller carbon footprint.
By recycling or reusing your Raw & Fresh boxes, you’re helping us close the loop on packaging waste and make your pet’s mealtime more sustainable.
Reusing & Recycling Gel Ice Packs
Our gel ice packs are designed to be safe, reusable, and eco-friendly. After your Raw & Fresh delivery, you don’t need to throw them away; they can be reused around the home for picnics, packed lunches, camping trips, or as handy cold packs in the first-aid kit.
If you’d prefer to dispose of them, cut the pack open and empty the gel into your garden soil. The non-toxic gel absorbs and retains water, helping plants and lawns stay hydrated, and it will naturally break down over time.
Important: Do not pour the gel down the sink or drains, as it can cause blockages!
The outer plastic film can be recycled at soft plastic recycling points (such as REDcycle alternatives being trialled at major supermarkets like Coles, Woolworths, or Aldi).
We’re also working on a future ice pack return program, which will allow customers to drop off ice packs to be cleaned and reused in our deliveries, reducing waste even further.
How to Recycle Plastic Packaging
The plastic surrounding the ice pack can be recycled at any participating REDcycle location. You can find these in retailers such as Aldi, Coles, or Woolworths. To learn more about the REDcycle program and what fabulous things they do with recycled plastics, click here.
NOTE: Coles and Woolworths have temporarily paused their REDcycle collection program. We're actively looking for alternatives.
The foil insulation liners cannot be REDcycled, but can be reused for picnics or other household cooling needs instead of purchased insulated bags. These are the only items that currently cannot be recycled. We are actively investigating alternative insulation solutions for these that also meet our refrigeration needs.
At Raw & Fresh we’re very conscientious of our environmental footprint and are always looking for ways to improve our systems to reflect that.