New World is launching PODs, a collection of four vacuum storage containers designed to extend the life of leftover foods.
After the success of the Little Garden promotion, which led to over 16 million seedlings planted throughout New Zealand, New World has found another way to make Kiwis’ home lives more sustainable.
The New World PODs are sturdy, reusable, and 100 percent recyclable containers that can be vacuum-sealed to keep leftovers safe for longer than other vessels. Their goal is to cut down on some of the millions of dollars’ worth of food that Kiwis throw out every year.
New World’s head of marketing, Dom Quin, has stated the supermarket chain is “super conscious of the role we can play in helping Kiwis make the most of what they buy from us.” The PODs system and the Love Food Hate Waste initiative are meant to encourage shoppers to keep their leftovers – whether it’s half a meal or half a tomato.
The storage containers are made from Tritan, a renowned high-performing plastic. The product comes with a vacuum pump to remove air from the closed container, making the seal effective. Some other vacuum sealed containers don’t come with this, rendering the sealing technology pointless.
The product has received a seal of approval from Nanogirl – otherwise known as Dr Michelle Dickinson – who is enthused about the environment-friendly nature of the PODs. “I’m backing these PODs because they’re BPA-free, reusable, recyclable, and are kinder on the environment in terms of energy use,” she stated. “Some plastic products can be beneficial, provided we use them in the right way and dispose of them correctly.”
Jenny Marshall of international organisation Love Food Hate Waste commented that “there is absolutely no excuse for New Zealanders not to be making the most of their leftovers.” She went on to commend the New World POD initiative for helping shoppers with this issue.
PODs will be available to collect from Monday 3rd September through Sunday 14 October. For every $20 a customer spends they will get a sticker. A different number of stickers can be redeemed for each different-sized POD, ranging from four stickers for the vacuum pump through to 18 stickers for the two-litre POD.
