Gousto x Xampla

Xampla's edible, pea protein-based packaging for Gousto stock cubes / Source: Gousto

EuropeFood & BeveragePackagingXampla

6 MINUTE READ

Nadine Smith

WHAT WE SAY:

Pre-portioned meal kits have become a go-to for many households, helping to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet, without the stress of home cooking from scratch. However, every kit can be comprised of individually packed ingredients - often wrapped in plastic.

Meal kit provider Gousto is attempting to find an alternative solution, teaming up with material innovator Xampla for edible, pea protein-based packaging for its stock cubes. While only a trial at present - and one that lasted a mere week - we are excited to see Xampla getting closer to commercialisation, as their innovations, using nutrients that are not chemically modified, fit perfectly into a true circular model.

KEY FACTS:

In 2021, UK meal box delivery service Gousto partnered with plant protein material innovator Xampla, to create edible, water-soluble packaging for its stock cubes. Trialled for one week, the wrappers were made from pea protein and could be added to hot water to dissolve, before being added to the meal.
The plastic alternative wrapper was made by engineering and drying a pea protein material in sheets - a process developed by Xampla. Able to preserve the stock cube’s flavour and prolong its shelf life, the edible wrapper acted in the same way as plastic, and was flavourless, vegan and gluten-free.
As the wrapper was intended for consumption, it could be easily processed by the human body and pass harmlessly into the water system. Should the wrapper not be dissolved, however, it could be both home and industrially composted. If the wrapper found its way into the open environment, it would degrade harmlessly in soil, marine or freshwater within a matter of weeks. Xampla materials degrade into nitrogen-containing compounds, which are then incorporated into organic matter, adding key nutrients back into the earth.
According to Gousto, if the protein-based wrapper was used to house all of its stock cubes, the company could save 17 tonnes of plastic per year.

No need to unwrap, the stock cube can be added straight into hot water / Source: Gousto

Xampla material used for stock cubes in Gousto meal kits / Source: Gousto

DIVE DEEPER:

A University of Michigan study, in 2019, found a potential carbon saving when using a food delivery service, in comparison to trips to the grocery store. What this did not account for, is the excessive use of plastic packaging often found in kits - used to house everything from a pinch of salt to a clove of garlic. These small plastic packs are virtually impossible to recycle, either due to size, composition or both and an analysis of three meal kits, in 2017, found each brand uses at least 20 different pieces of packaging, with one using 31. That is an awful lot of extra waste for just one meal.
In an effort to replace its non-recyclable plastic packs, Gousto trialled its edible stock cube wrapper for one week in November 2021. The material, made by Xampla, is known as a ‘supramolecular engineered protein.’ It is made by untangling plant proteins and reassembling them, without altering the chemical structure of the molecules. Inspired by the spider and its protein-based web, the resulting material is strong and flexible - just like plastic, but without the impact or toxins.
The Xampla material has a number of applications - from edible food wrappers to replacing PVOH in dishwasher tablet coatings. Gousto used it to replace the stock sachets found in its Indian Spiced Carrot and Lentil Soup kit.
An independent study, commissioned by Gousto, found that if every UK home replaced its supermarket dinners with meals from Gousto for just one year, 10.3 million tonnes of CO2 would be saved. The same as taking nearly 140,000 buses off the road for the year.
The plastic replacement trial comes alongside several other Gousto initiatives to lessen its environmental impact. These efforts include the Eco Chill Box - an insulating box made from recycled cardboard that helps keep ingredients fresh and reduced the brand’s plastic use by 50%. It must be noted, however, that the company was criticised for greenwashing when its advert for the Eco Chill box claimed it to be 100% plastic free - despite housing plastic-packaged cooling packs. The brand stated that it saw the box and the coolants as separate entities.
Gousto boxes are available in the UK and are priced between GBP 24.99 (USD 31.00) and GBP 50.25 (USD 62.50) for between two and four meals, for two to four people. Delivery is free. Following a profitable 2020, Gousto became a Certified B Corp.

"We’re so excited to be working with the recipe box company to offer more sustainable alternatives to plastic, and hope this marks the beginning of significant change within the industry and many more innovative packaging solutions in the future."

Simon Hombersley - CEO, Xampla

Key Design Considerations:

This is only a trial

Any replacement of plastic packaging is welcome, but it is important to remember that Gousto’s use of Xampla was only a week-long, opt-in trial, not a full market rollout. At present, there is no indication that Gousto will be adopting the Xampla material as standard. This is likely due to the fact that Xampla is still in the early commercialisation phase and while the company is partaking in consumer-facing trials, the material has limited availability. Work with Xampla to help scale this pioneering solution and be the first to bring it to the mass market.

Secondary packaging could impact overall good intentions

Gousto’s stock cube and its packaging are designed to be consumed. This could mean that secondary packaging is required to keep the product safe for consumption - dependant on final use and shelf-life requirements. Ensure that any secondary packaging is also plastic-free - with cardboard or paper being the obvious choice.

This innovation might not be necessary

We are avid fans of Xampla, but this use-case may not be solving the most pressing packaging issue it could. Most premium stock cube brands house their product in foil wrappers and cardboard boxes - both of which can be recycled kerbside. While recycling is not the answer to our waste problem - and we back any material that degrades into key nutrients - the resources it takes to create Xampla might outweigh its end-of-life benefits in this use-case.

A system change could reduce packaging even further

Instead of sourcing a replacement material for meal kit stock cubes, why not do away with the stock cube altogether? As suggested by a number of users of the Gousto scheme, an ‘opt-out’ option for household staples, such as herbs, spices and stock would help eliminate the excessive use of packaging per meal. Most people have these ingredients in their homes already, after all. Alternatively, a prefill system could suffice - whereby core ingredients, such as salt, pepper and stock are delivered in permanent, reusable packaging that once empty, is collected when the next box is delivered.