They say food is the way to Singaporeans’ hearts, and there is no doubt that is absolutely true. 

Amid the new normal, more and more home bakeries have emerged in Singapore, selling incredibly creative and delicious goodies that are freshly baked, right from their home kitchens. However, the issue of packaging wastage persists (and potentially increasing) amongst these new commerces, including but not limited to bakeries, confectioneries, coffee shops, restaurants and hotels.

Achieving zero waste may seem impossible in the food industry, especially if the packaging is not designed to be reused, easily recycled or contaminated with food. But with a little planning, reducing the amount of packaging waste can certainly be attained. Of course, this is easier said than done as it takes dedication and effort to adopt new habits which could be challenging. 

We know that it seems like ignoring it all would be easier, but our planet is in trouble and every little small change in our daily routines can add up to big impacts. Nothing is done overnight. It is a process. On the market for alternatives to conventional packaging materials? Read on for ways that you can approach in your journey into low-waste living.

Here are some tips to help you live more sustainably and reduce your carbon footprint!

When looking for eco-friendly packaging, go for sustainable materials. One simple way is to opt for plastic-free packaging such as glass or paper boxes that can be composted and recycled. On the other hand, retail outlets can offer incentives to customers who bring their own reusable bags or containers in efforts to reduce one-off packaging usage and that could also be cost-effective in the long run. 

While that might be difficult for home bakers to implement due to the absence of a physical store customers can visit, you can however make sure they are reusable. Truth is, many food-safe packaging are made for one-time use due to hygiene purposes, so most end up in the trash. Singaporeans alone toss about 900 million kilograms of plastic waste a year and only a mere four per cent is recycled. SenMao offers reusable containers of different sizes for your bakes that can also be repurposed into storage containers for customers' home use.

In a nutshell, key tips that you can practice include switching to more eco-friendly forms of packaging as well as eliminating unnecessary packaging by purchasing proper sized containers for your baked goods to reduce packaging waste. You may not be the most environmentally conscious business out there, but you can start by implementing these changes to be better and kinder for our ecosystem.

If you’re a beginner or a startup baker, SenMao has everything you need to kickstart your baking business at affordable prices. From baking and cooking tools to packaging material, it is a one-stop shop for all baking essentials and supplies! We also offer customisation services if you wish to put your branding on our products.

Do you have a passion for baking? Join SenMao Baking Community to connect with experts in baking, access to exclusive resources like baking videos and recipes, and enjoy members’ benefits such as birthday month discounts and freebies, free shipping and enhanced savings. Register online for your FREE lifetime membership on our website www.senmao.sg