To avoid the need for problematic multi-material packaging, JOI started offering concentrated nut pastes as an alternative to conventional nut milk cartons. This paste can then be mixed with water at home to make nut-based beverages and other products. In this way, JOI has been able to rethink a traditionally liquid product into an innovative solid one. As a result, the packaging requirements for the product changed, now allowing for mono-material, recyclable tubs to be used, as well as providing more servings per container, reducing the overall amount of packaging needed.
Biodiversity benefits
One JOI tub is estimated to eliminate seven cartons; one pail, 60 cartons, reducing the need for and impacts on biodiversity of material extraction and processing. Moreover, the mono-material rigid packaging used by JOI has a higher chance of being recycled than common multi-material alternatives used to package nut milk, reducing the potential for leakage into the environment and the need for virgin material extraction. JOI’s format is also able to minimise transport emissions as it reduces weight and storage space: one truckload of JOI is said to be equivalent to five truckloads of plant-based milk in cartons.
This page is part of a deep dive into biodiversity and plastic packaging, where we delve deeper into tackling plastic pollution through elimination, innovation, and circulation.
