Reusable packaging - and edible cutlery

We all know that not enough plastic is recycled – so here we look at two French ideas aimed at reducing its use so recycling does not have to happen at all

L’Embeillage, which launched in March, creates 100% natural, sustainable and reusable “Made in France” food packaging that extends the life of perishable food and cuts down waste at the same time.

Best described as eco-friendly re-usable clingfilm, sheets can be used as a cover for dishes, to wrap sandwiches or as a second skin for unpackaged cheese and vegetables.

After each use it can be washed and stored until needed. Packs are available via the lembeillage.fr website and in organic stores across Ile de France. A “discovery pack” costs €16.90.

A second French start-up is selling edible spoons and forks made of wheat, salt and rapeseed oil, meaning there is no need to buy plastic cutlery for soirées or picnics – and there’s much less waste, as guests can eat their used cutlery.

Koovee’s (koovee.co) “biscuit” cutlery has been tested on a range of popular apéro dishes and is, its creators say, strong enough to survive intact in water at 65C for five minutes.

It has the backing of TV chef Norbert Tarayre, who described the utensils as “delicious and surprising rusks for your picnics or evenings”. A pack of 10 spoons and forks costs €12.