Let’s face it, snacking is very unsustainable. It leaves a trail of rubbish behind, is often packed with unhealthy ingredients and can be made through unethical practices such as unfair labour and depletion of natural resources.
But the movement for sustainable snacks is definitely on the rise. If you live in the UK, there are a few ways of satisfying your sweet and savoury cravings all while supporting brands who are making a difference.
Here are 5 that we know you’ll absolutely love for those late-night Netflix marathons!
Two Farmers Hand-Cooked Crisps
I often hear from other zero waste aspirers that crisps is their point of weakness. It’s definitely mine when it comes to reducing my plastic usage.
So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Two Farmers crisps. They have one of my favourite flavours (Salt & Cider Vinegar) and their packaging is 100% home compostable and, therefore, biodegradable.
The potatoes are grown, picked and stored at their farm and they even hand cook the potatoes in small batches to maximise on freshness!
Snact
Snact is the perfect cross between 2 of my favourite things: snacking & activism.
They save surplus fruit from going to the landfills and turn them into deliciously chewy nibbles. Their packaging is also compostable for more guilt-free indulgence! I love that they’re made 100% from fruit which makes them a healthier alternative when you’re looking for a sweet treat.
Native Snacks
Native Snacks contain a unique ingredient. They’re made from Lotus Seeds! Incredible right? If you’re wondering what that tastes like, popcorn is the answer. They’re a healthy snack full of protein and come coated in beautiful spices for a boost of flavour.
Supporting native snacks means supporting the Indian lotus seed pickers in Bihar. Native Snacks believe strongly in treating their workers fairly which is another reason for this brand to belong in this list!
Brave Foods
Protein Power! Chickpea truly is a miraculous food. These little yellow pebbles are jam-packed with protein. Pulses are also great for the environment as their ecological footprint during production is quite low. While the packaging is not compostable, it is recyclable which gives it the upper hand over most snacks you find in the supermarket. They are super crunchy and coated with flavour. My favourite is the sweet chilli one — which I 100% recommend you give a try!
Ombar
We can’t really talk about snacks and not mention…chocolate. What is life without chocolate? The cocoa industry is notorious for its unethical practices, but Ombar is setting a new path for guilt-free snackage. By buying directly from cocoa farmers, Ombar can ensure farmers are paid a fair price. The bars come in some fun flavours, are full of organic deliciousness and kept unroasted to maximise on chocolatey nutrients and antioxidants.
Author: Leena Jhurreea