我们的可持续发展理念
一直以来，OKU的宗旨，都是帮助人们发现或重新了解新西兰丛林植物所蕴含的力量。在此过程当中，尽我们所能减少碳足迹也是不可忽视的一环。
在我们的整个商业模式当中，低碳概念体现在每一方面，如采摘作物的方式、包装设计、产品流通等等，确保OKU担当好土地守护者的角色。
我们希望你用心享受OKU充满新西兰风情的产品，正如我们生产研发时对它们投入的爱。
我们的包装
茶叶系列外包装选用森林管理委员会认证的可完全回收、循环利用容器
所有的散茶系列产品使用NatureFlex™内包装，可完利用于家庭堆肥
我们的茶包均采用由100%非转基因甘蔗制作的NeoSoilon金字塔茶包
我们的大号茶包使用纸及聚乳酸制作
所有瓶罐容器由玻璃制作，采用铝制瓶盖
所有快递包装可以完全利用于家庭堆肥
日常生产运营使用的纸张都经过森林管理委员会认证，包括我们开具的票据，也选用了Sandow再生纸品。办公室产生的所有纸质废品均被打碎并用作包装材料。
用于包装的胶带，也是由可完全降解的植物纤维素制作
我们十分严苛地对待原材料的来源。所有的本土草药都是在获得许可的情况下野生采集，其他的草药也必须经过有机认证。产品当中的其他材料也是有机的，或者是公平贸易产品。精华液系列产品里面选用的甘油不含棕榈油成分。在敲定供应商之前，我们必须查看他们的相关产品认证材料。
可堆肥茶包
请循环利用
100% 可回收材料
How to recycle or compost your OKU product:
NatureFlex & Courier Bags: Remove or cut off any labels/stickers still attached and place the bag itself into your compost bin. If you don’t have a home compost there are also helpful sites you can use to share another person’s compost, such as Sharewaste.
TeaTubes: Zero plastic, 100% FSC Card so this can simply be put into your local council recycling collection with other card & paper or reused by repurchasing our Refill Bag Options.
NeoSoilon® TeaBags: Send them to your nearest commercial composting facility. There are 12 industrial facilities in New Zealand and 3 community facilities that currently accept compostable packaging as well as local councils preparing to begin home organic collections.
Or alternatively you can add them into your home compost where we recommend cutting them up with scissors first to help them along.
Info on NeoSoilon® TeaBags
From the viewpoint of environmental problems, there have been many needs in the market for Eco friendly biodegradable tea bags.
In order to respond to the changing needs from petroleum-based materials (Nylon, PET, etc.) to plant-based materials as a sustainable resource. GMO products have also been shunned due to growing demand for organic products in the market.
For this reason, we here at OKU have sought out a product that is 100% Non-GMO.
We have found this in the NeoSoilon® a high quality mesh filter made from 100% non-GMO sugar cane.
Info on NatureFlex™ Bags
Our NatureFlex™ Inner Bags used for our loose leaf tea and our Refill Bag Options are both certified as home compostable and biodegradable and are made from renewable sustainable resources. Wood pulp is used and is guaranteed to be non GMO and sourced exclusively from suppliers operating under FSC and PEFC standards.
Manufactured from renewable wood pulp sourced from managed plantations.
Suitable for all types of ‘Industrial’ and ‘Home’ composting.
Compostable in anaerobic digestion.
Biodegrades at ambient temperatures.
Also Biodegrades in water and sewage environments.
| Method | Plastic film | NatureFlex | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Composting | x | ✓ | *NatureFlex films are certified to EN13432, ASTM D6400 and AS4376 |
| Home Composting | x | ✓ | *NatureFlex films are certified to OK Compost Home, NFT51-800 and AS5810 |
| Anaerobic Digestion | x | ✓ | Tested to ISO 15985 |
| Incineration (EfW) | ✓ | ✓ | Basic suitability |
| Landfill | ? | ? | No adverse effects but not desirable |
| Mechanical Recycling | x | x | NatureFlex films are not suitable. Impractical for flexible film structures |
| Paper Recycling | ? | ? | NaturalFlex films will separate from paper but are not themselves recyclable, similar to plastic film |
Extra Info on Packaging:
| Description | Materials | Certifications | Compostable/Recyclable |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Tubes | FSC & BRC Certified | FSC & BRC | Fully recyclable |
| Tea Bags | NeoSoilon® 100% non-GMO sugarcane | Non GMO Project, TÜV – OK Compost (Industrial), BPI Compostable | Commercially compostable |
| Inner Bag – Loose Leaf | NatureFlex™ Timber Cellulose | FSC, TÜV - OK Compost (Home), BPI Compostable | Fully home compostable |
| Tea Pouches | PLA, Paper Outer | TÜV - OK Compost, EN13432 | Commercially compostable |
| All jars & Bottles | Glass with alumiunium closures | Recyclable | |
| Inner Booklet | Uncoated paper | FSC, PEFC | Fully recyclable |
| Tea Seal Sticker | Uncoated Art Paper | ||
| Packaging Tape | Timber cellulose with natural rubber adhesive system. Tape core is made from recycled materials | PEFC, ROHS | Both are naturally biodegradeable |
| Courier Bags | PBAT (biodegradeable copolymer) + PLA (corn starch & sugarcane) | TÜV – OK Compost (Home), BPI Compostable, Dincerto compostable | Fully home compostable (with shipping labels, stickers removed) |
| Invoices | Sandow Recycled Paper | ||
| All Inks | Petroleum free inks | ||
More Info on Certifications:
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): FSC has a global forest certification system to provide a guarantee that forest products come from responsibly managed sources. The system has two key components:
Forest Management (FM) certification shows that forest managers or owners are managing their forests in a responsible way. forest management certification is a guarantee your processes and operations meet FSC standards;
Chain of Custody (CoC) certification provides a guarantee about the production and source of FSC-certified products. It is for businesses manufacturing or trading forest products. Chain of Custody certification verifies that products are handled correctly at every stage of production – from forest to shelf.
FSC has a direct, permanent, positive impact on the world’s forests and on the people and everything living from, in and around them.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC): A leading global alliance (based in Geneva, Switzerland) of national forest certification systems. As an international non-profit, non-governmental organization, we are dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.
British Retail Consortium (BRC): A standard that specifies requirements for a company to ensure food safety during the production, packing, storing and distribution processes.
Non GMO Project: The Non-GMO Project Verified mark assures consumers that the product bearing the label has been evaluated for compliance with the Non-GMO Standard.
TÜV Austria: Packaging or products that feature the TÜV OK Compost logo (based on European standard EN1432) are guaranteed as biodegradable & compostable. There are two categories:
Industrial - Packaging or products are guaranteed to be biodegradable in an industrial composting plant. This applies to all of their components, inks and additives.
Home – Packaging or products are guaranteed to have complete biodegradability even in your garden compost heap.
Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI): BPI is a North American science-driven organisation that supports a shift to the circular economy by promoting the production, use, and appropriate end of lives for materials and products that are designed to fully biodegrade in specific biologically active environments. Uses the ASTM D6400 certification which is equivalent to the European EN1432.
What is the difference between Compostable and biodegradable?
Biodegradable plastic is plastic that will break down through the action of living organisms, usually microbes. To fully break down, biodegradable plastics require the right environment.
If biodegradable plastic is left to break down in an environment such as in landfills or the sea – it often only breaks down into micro-plastics. These micro-plastics can create ‘plastic smog’ in parts of the ocean and accumulate in soils.
To gain certifications such as TÜV – OK Compost, the product must break down within 90 days in commercial compost and 180 days in domestic compost conditions, including wormfarm compost. After degradation, they must leave no harmful residues behind. In fact, the only residue left behind is a soil enhancer which is returned to the earth as plant food.