Cooking Green: Is HelloFresh a Sustainable Choice

Are you part of the HelloFresh fan club, eagerly awaiting those weekly culinary surprises at your doorstep? 

I was too. I hopped on the HelloFresh train a while back, more for the promise of delicious dinners than any eco-friendly considerations.

But hold on a sec – have you ever thought about the environmental side of this meal kit adventure? 

I sure didn’t at first. 

Now, armed with a fresh perspective and a renewed HelloFresh subscription, I’ve decided to take a closer look at what’s inside those neatly packed HelloFresh boxes.

Join me on this journey of unpacking not just recipes but also the eco-friendly side of HelloFresh. 

Let’s see if our favourite meal kit is as kind to the planet as it is to our taste buds!

HelloFresh – Berlin Roots, Global Growth

Established in Berlin, Germany, in 2011, HelloFresh has evolved from a local gem into a publicly traded meal-kit company with a global presence.

At the heart of HelloFresh is its revolutionary meal kit delivery service, a boon for home cooks. 

Picture this: chef-approved recipes and precisely measured ingredients arriving at your doorstep, essentially a personal sous chef, eliminating the hassles of planning and shopping.

What sets HelloFresh apart is its recipe for home-cooking success: a world of diverse and tasty recipes, straightforward cooking instructions, and simplicity.

The convenience of finding everything neatly packed in a single box can transform kitchen novices into confident home chefs. 

Not to mention, their service operates on a subscription basis, ensuring a steady supply of culinary inspiration right to your door.

Rediscovery and Renew

HelloFresh popped up on my radar thanks to TV and social media ads, especially their slick YouTube promos. 

Flashback to 2015, my first stint with HelloFresh. Fast forward to now, their ads sparked a thought: ‘Can meal kits help me cut down on driving to the store and be greener?’

A quick website check revealed that HelloFresh is diving deep into sustainability. From supply chain tweaks to Paris Climate Agreement alignment and precise ingredient measurements to cut waste – they’re on it.

Plus, they’re promising innovative packaging.

Impressive bonus: their ‘climate conscious‘ recipes slash carbon emissions by 2/3 compared to the usual. HelloFresh isn’t just about meals; it’s about aligning with my eco-cooking vibe.

So, with a nod to green cooking and a company that vibes with my sustainability tune, I thought, why not? HelloFresh, here I come again!

How HelloFresh Works

New to the HelloFresh scene? Let’s break down the steps:

Customizing your meal plan

• Choose the meal type that suits you: options like meat & veggie, veggie, family-friendly, fit & wholesome, quick & easy, and pescatarian. (Note: options might vary based on the country you’re in.)
• Specify your plan size: Are you cooking for 2 or 4?
• Select the number of meals per week: Options range from 2 to 6.

Recipe preferences

• Once HelloFresh has your plan details, their system suggests recipes tailored to your preferences.
• Dive in and choose the specific recipes you’d like to be delivered.

Extras, anyone?

• Feeling fancy? Add side dishes or desserts to spice things up.

Weekly subscription

• Signing up means you’re in for the weekly subscription ride.
• Unless you hit pause, expect weekly charges. You’ll also get a prompt to choose recipes and your delivery day.

That’s how HelloFresh works – easy, flexible, and a neatly prepacked meal kit delivered to your doorstep every week.

Unpacking the Boxes: A Closer Look

So, the HelloFresh box arrived right on schedule, and I have to say, I’m a fan of simplicity. No unnecessary packaging or flashy colours – just a solid, sturdy box, which suits me just fine.

Upon cracking it open, my initial impression was positive. 

Three recipe cards greeted me, listing ingredients, required cooking tools, nutrition values, and allergens. Plus, a pleasant surprise – the cards are FSC certified, a nod to sustainability.

Next up, three paper-packed bags, each neatly labelled with a recipe number matching the cards. Perfect coordination for my veggie plan, designed for two people with three meals per week.

In the mix, there’s an insulated bag, essential for keeping certain ingredients cool. I’m definitely not a big fan of the plastic layer, but I guess it’s for food safety. 

Now, let’s dive into the bags. I have mixed feelings here, but let’s start with the positives:

• Some whole foods like aubergine, yellow peppers, garlic, and lime are plastic-free.
• The fresh whole foods look, well, fresh.
• Two ingredients: chopped tomatoes and tofu, get the cardboard treatment, avoiding unnecessary plastic.

But here comes the negatives:

• The enthusiasm wanes as I spot too many single-use plastics wrapping pre-measured sauces, chopped veggies, and fresh salads.
• Potatoes, a no-fuss vegetable, shouldn’t find themselves in plastic bags.
• While I subscribed for high-protein recipes, the ingredient lineup appears to lean towards higher carbs, which may not be optimal for regulating blood sugar.

Now, let’s talk extras. The box brought along gift vouchers, leaflets, and a magazine. While I appreciate the thought, it might be worth letting customers opt out, saving the environment from potential recycling bin fate.

As much as I’m aware of HelloFresh trying to cut down the use of plastic in their packaging, I can’t help but feel guilty about having so much single-use plastic in just one delivery box. 

And some paper packaging and paper materials aren’t eco-friendly either!

This time, I’m already starting to consider cancelling the plan.

Cooking the Recipes: A HelloFresh Taste Test

Despite my packaging concerns, I’m ready to dive into these recipes and see if HelloFresh can still win me over. Here’s the lineup I’ve got:

1. Veggie moussaka with lentils and garlic ciabatta
2. Fragrant veg noodle stir-fry with mushrooms, tender stem, and peanuts
3. Sweet chilli tofu and roasted pepper burger

First off, props to the recipes for not demanding a chopping marathon. The step-by-step instructions on the recipe cards are a breeze to follow. 

And can we talk about portion sizes?

Generous is an understatement – my husband and I, not exactly small eaters, still ended up with lunch leftovers for one.

Now, here’s a reality check on cooking time. It seems tailored for the kitchen regulars.

For those who seldom venture into home-cooking territory, add 10 minutes to the suggested time on the card.

Taste, unfortunately, takes a dip. Each dish wrapped up a bit too saucy for my liking.

I’m all for flavour, but an excess of sauce raises some health flags – we’re talking potential sugar, salt, or oil overload!

Sure, it might be the recipes I picked, but a quick visit to the HelloFresh recipe hub reveals a saucy trend in many non-meat dishes.

Final Verdict: Is HelloFresh a Keeper?

So, the million-dollar question: Will I stick around for more HelloFresh culinary adventures?

In short, no, and the deciding factor is the plastic overload in just one delivery box.

Let’s talk sauce sachets – those little flavour boosters come with a hefty environmental cost. 

Each recipe comes with at least two to three sauce sachets, resulting in a staggering eight single-use plastics for the three recipes in my HelloFresh food box. 

Mind you, that count excludes the plastics wrapping potatoes, buns, dry egg noodles, and a trio of other whole food ingredients.

It’s a plastic overload that’s a bit too much for my eco-conscious soul!

Sure, HelloFresh claims to be on a packaging innovation spree, minimizing unnecessary materials and even teaming up with the Plastic Bank to battle plastic pollution. They’ve got initiatives, no doubt.

But from where I stand as a conscious customer, there’s room for improvement. 

How about letting us opt out of sauce sachets if our pantry is already stocked? Maybe throw in a discount as an incentive?

Here’s another thought: why not engage customers in surveys focusing on cutting down plastic use, even in those seemingly innocent paper bags?

After all, paper production contributes to deforestation, a major player in the global warming game.

If it were just a matter of taste, I’d be open to giving HelloFresh another shot with different recipes.

However, the prospect of another plastic-packed box on my doorstep led me to hit the cancel button on my subscription.

Wrapping Up: Navigating Sustainability in Everyday Choices

In the rush of everyday life, HelloFresh beckons to those who crave homemade goodness minus the grocery hassle.

It’s a time-saver for the busy, a tutor for kitchen newcomers, and a solution for those dodging takeouts and processed fare.

No doubt, HelloFresh delivers on its promise of convenience, cutting down food waste as each ingredient is precisely measured and bringing tasty and somewhat healthy meals to our doorstep. It’s a tempting offer that clicks with many.

Yet, as we revel in the ease, it’s worth pausing to think: should our comfort mean contributing to plastic and paper pollution? 

It’s a question each of us must honestly answer for ourselves, weighing the convenience against the environmental impact. 

I’ve made my decision to stick with my usual way – shop local, buy in bulk when appropriate, and say no to single-use plastics! 

The journey towards a more sustainable future begins with the choices we make today!

Watch the HelloFresh Unboxing & Review Video