CO-CONSCIOUS businesses offering takeaway food in Flintshire are giving their customers the choice of ditching single-use plastic or cardboard. 

The 'Naked Takeaway' scheme sees reusable food containers used by some takeaways instead of plastic or cardboard. 

The businesses involved in the year-long pilot to help protect the environment and support a more circular economy are – in Mold, Alexander’s Pizza, Asia Sensation, Club Spice, Spoons and Forks, and The Gathering – and in Caerwys, On the Corner Café.

The Leader: Tracy Jones and Heather Smith, co-owners of On the Corner Café in Caerwys, with Hannah Blythyn Member of the Senedd for Delyn and their Naked Takeaway tiffin tins. (Photo courtesy of Phil Jones)Tracy Jones and Heather Smith, co-owners of On the Corner Café in Caerwys, with Hannah Blythyn Member of the Senedd for Delyn and their Naked Takeaway tiffin tins. (Photo courtesy of Phil Jones)

Every day dozens of takeaway meals are produced by cafes, restaurants and takeaways in the towns, most of which are packed in plastic or cardboard containers. 

These containers may only be used once to carry the food home and then they’re either thrown away or put into household recycling. 

Findings locally suggest that many people want to prevent this unnecessary waste and would prefer reusable alternative solutions.

Which is where the Naked Takeaway scheme comes in.

Now, working alongside Mold Plastic Reduction and Mold and Caerwys town councils, the takeaway owners in the pilot scheme have introduced tiffin tins – a reusable, stainless steel set of stacking tins – or aluminium pizza box takeaway food containers, both of which can be used time and again.

Sam Hubbard, of Mold Plastic Reduction steering group, said: “Our aim is to raise awareness of plastic pollution generally and to offer people alternatives to throwaway and single-use.

“Litter is also related to on-the-go food and drinks containers so a shift to reusable should help to improve that situation as well.

“Thanks to grant funding to buy the reusable tins, we’re encouraging local takeaway owners and those in the hospitality sector to give their customers the choice of opting for reusable Naked Takeaway containers and reducing their single-use plastic usage."

Sam added: “The scheme will show what environmental impact the takeaway sector can have by cutting down on their single-use packaging and we’re very hopeful that the Naked Takeaway will be a viable, cost-effective solution. It’s early days yet but so far the feedback has been very encouraging.”

The Leader: Craig Lewis, owner of Alexander’s Pizza in Mold, shows Hannah Blythyn, Member of the Senedd for Delyn, his pizza oven and Naked Takeaway pizza tins (Photo courtesy of Phil Jones).Craig Lewis, owner of Alexander’s Pizza in Mold, shows Hannah Blythyn, Member of the Senedd for Delyn, his pizza oven and Naked Takeaway pizza tins (Photo courtesy of Phil Jones).

Craig Lewis, owner of Alexander’s Pizza, said: “I’m keen to be involved in the Naked Takeaway scheme with the reusable pizza tins. I’ve found that not only do they keep the pizzas hot, I’m sure that my customers will appreciate having the choice of reusable containers – the damage to the environment caused by takeaway packing is such a prominent topic. 

"To launch the scheme, we will initially be offering a free cake for every tin that is returned.”

To find out more please visit Mold Plastic Reduction website www.moldplasticreduction.org or email moldplasticreduction@gmail.com or facebook plastic reduction mold - Lleihau Plastig Yr Wyddgrug