Wholesale Spice Grinder Certification and Greenwashing

Greenwashing is a widespread concern that affects every industry, including the production of wholesale spice grinders. This term refers to marketing and advertising that deliberately uses misleading terms that lure consumers into believing that their products are truly sustainable. Greenwashing is especially common in the packaging sector, including food packaging such as spice grinders. Labels, logos and other terms are used to create the illusion of minimal environmental impact. When companies resort to greenwashing, it is often due to practices that do not support the company’s claims to adhere to sustainable practices. It could be something as simple as using wording such as sustainable on labelling. Logos or other imagery that references environmentally-friendly materials, sustainably-sourced materials, trees, leaves or even colours such as green can all also give consumers the illusion that the products they are purchasing are eco-friendly.

How Sustainable Are Your Wholesale Spice Grinders?

As a food supplier, restaurant, retailer, small-scale producer or other company sourcing wholesale spice grinders, sustainability is a valid concern. Wholesale customers know that the packaging they use affects consumers. Selling salt, pepper and pepper that has been made using natural ingredients also means using packaging that is made from safe materials that leave minimal impact on the planet. Greenwashing makes it harder for companies sourcing grinders to make informed decisions. When suppliers use green terms that are not backed by solid evidence, it is difficult to know for sure whether or not grinders are adhering to any regulations or efforts to deliver genuinely sustainable packaging.

How can you know whether your grinders are genuinely sustainable?

The simplest and most effective way is to look for trust signals. The biggest trust signal that guarantees quality is ISO certification. To achieve certification, packaging suppliers need to go through stringent quality testing and processes. In most cases, certification needs to be renewed, with audits and other processes involved to meet the high standards set forth by regulators. Other things to look for include materials used in the production of grinders, bottles and closures. PET plastic has become the best choice for plastic grinders, however, rPET provides an even better solution to virgin PET. This plastic has been used, recycled and used in production to create new PET bottles. Watch our video to find out more about rPET. This lowers the carbon footprint significantly. The term BPA-free plastic is commonly used in packaging. PET bottles are free of all harmful chemicals, including BPA, while other plastics may be free of BPA but still not easily recyclable plastic.

Other greenwashing terms refer to the freshness of products – especially dry goods such as seasoning. Wording that implies long-lasting flavour or freshness can give consumers the idea that spices will be fresh, even when left on the shelf. Grinder manufacturers that provide value-added services such as induction liners can ensure that spices are kept fresh. This further helps to reduce environmental impact by reducing waste. Without measures designed to prevent spoilage, claims of product freshness are not always valid.

Ultimately, choosing suppliers that are committed to providing the best level of quality and sustainability comes down to looking past buzzwords. When choosing your partner, always be sure to check trust signals, materials and other features that prove genuine efforts to leave a minimal impact on the planet.

At Global Grinders, we strive to provide our partners with world-class grinders to suit every requirement and budget. Contact us today to find out more about our wholesale spice grinders.

The Importance of Recyclable Spice Grinders

As a manufacturer of spices, partnering with a supplier that provides recyclable spice grinders is essential. In today’s world, plastic production has reached massive levels. Pollution has become a global crisis. Cheap, non-recyclable plastics very quickly end up in landfills, before being released into rivers, oceans and other ecosystems. Even glass can end up in landfills, rather than being recycled. Beyond the environmental impact of non-recyclable spice grinders, there are many other factors that make sustainability a major concern.

 

Wholesale Spice Grinders and Sustainability

The primary ways that sustainability should be top of mind when choosing wholesale spice grinders include the following:

Environmental impact

As we briefly mentioned above, the effect of plastics and other non-recyclable or reusable materials has been devastating. From a global perspective, non-consumables have resulted in major pollution – not just in urban areas but also in protected areas. Plastics especially put entire ecosystems at risk, affecting wildlife, marine life, birdlife, and natural environments. When choosing plastic grinder bottles, always choose bottles made of PET. These can be recycled and pose a far reduced risk to the environment compared to other types of plastics. Glass bottles are also an excellent choice, as glass can be recycled over and over again.

Global compliance

Sustainability goes beyond the environment. There are many regulations concerning the use of disposable materials that cannot be recycled. Although it is not technically illegal to use bottles or grinder tops that cannot be fully recycled, you may need to comply with certain regulations if you are seeking ISO certification or other globally recognised quality certification. Failure to comply with any requirements regarding sustainability may end up preventing you from achieving certification.

Business reputation

Even if sustainability is not required for compliance, it will certainly affect the way that your customers perceive your business. As consumers become more aware of their environmental footprint and services such as composting and recycling become the norm, a growing number of consumers are choosing products according to their commitment to sustainability. In many cases, non-recyclable product containers and packaging are associated with cheap, once-off products rather than quality products that have values aligned with consumers. When sustainability is taken seriously and included within brand values and mission, there is a far better chance of increasing business reputation and developing a loyal consumer base. Sustainable products can also attract new customers who are seeking products that are fully sustainable, from spices to bottles, grinders and packaging.

At Global Grinders, we are committed to providing the best quality products while ensuring sustainability at all times. View our product brochure to find out more about our recyclable, premium quality wholesale spice grinders.

Spice Grinder – Glass or Plastic?

Plastic and glass are each unique materials which can present, store and deliver your product safely and economically, whether you or your customer use a single or diverse marketing platforms, such as the supermarket shelf or online purchasing, to reach the target consumer. Both of these bottle types are worth considering.

If you are wondering which salt/spice grinder bottles are best suited for your product or brand consider the following:

Glass

Glass manufacturers say that glass lends a ‘premium feel’ to a brand, that it offers a high quality appearance and that glass offers a versatile option to brands seeking superior quality. It is the only widely-used food packaging material granted the FDA status of “GRAS” or generally recognized as safe – the highest standard.

Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity. A glass container can go from a recycling bin to a store shelf in as little as 30 days. An estimated 80% of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles. Glass is nonporous and impermeable, so there are no interactions between glass packaging and products to affect the flavour of food and beverages. Glass has an almost zero rate of chemical interactions, ensuring that the products inside a glass bottle keep their strength, aroma, and flavor. Our range includes 10ml (0.33 oz), 25ml (0.84 oz), 50ml (1.6 oz) and 100ml (3.4 oz) glass jars.

Plastic

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a compound which gives the plastic bottle its toughness, provides energy saving and ease of production. Plastic bottles are sterile and therefore safe to use and recyclable. Due to their resilience, they are unlikely to burst or leak. Since the mid 1970’s plastics have risen to prominence as packaging materials for food, beverages, cosmetics and a host of consumer goods. Plastic is easily moulded and presented in a multitude of attractive shapes. The seven sizes and shapes in our PET range, from the ‘cute’ angular 50ml jar to the curvaceous 375 ml bottle, are testimony to this feature of plastic.

Global Grinders is here to assist you, please contact us at your convenience, or click on Bottles on our home page. Our range extends from large catering size bottles (375ml -12.6 oz) to specialist small size bottles, with attendant highest quality grinders/mills. Browse our full range of spice bottles and grinders then click on: global.grinders.enquiries@globalgrinders.com or call us on +27 21 7016788 to discuss your wholesale requirements.

How to Clean and Reuse Glass Spice Grinders

One of the top reasons to invest in quality spice grinders is that you can reuse them again and again. Glass bottles will last for many years if they are properly cleaned between uses. You don’t need any expensive ingredients or complicated equipment, either. In addition to storing your favourite whole spices, you can also use your grinders for other purposes once the bottles are cleaned and dried.

In this short guide, we’ll take a look at how you can clean and reuse spice grinders so that they last as long as possible.

Repurposing Your Old Glass Spice Grinders

Before we begin, it is important to note that while glass grinder bottles will last a long time, plastic bottles may not last as long. These can be reused for a while, but as plastic absorbed odours and is more subject to wear and tear; they likely won’t be the best choice for long-term repurposing. You can however clean and recycle your old plastic bottles. Flip tops and grinder lids may also need to be replaced if you are reusing your grinder bottles for spices. The good news is that you can buy separate lids and closures from a spice grinder supplier such as Global Grinders.

Some tips for cleaning and reusing your bottles include the following:

  • Soak thoroughly in hot water. For a simple yet effective natural solution, mix a little bit of dish soap with some bicarbonate of soda and a bit of white vinegar. This mixture will clean and remove odours. You will find it easier to remove labels on glass after a good soak as well. Leave in this soapy mixture for a few hours, or even overnight. Afterwards, you can wash as normal in the sink.
  • Dry completely before using the bottle. Set the bottles on a kitchen towel or cloth or on a draining board. Allow to air-dry completely before reusing the bottles. Trapped moisture can result in spoilage if you plan to use the bottles for new spices. Moisture can also cause salt to crystallise or sweat. Leave for a good few hours in a ventilated space so that the bottles have enough time to dry on the inside.
  • Don’t forget to clean the lids and grinder tops as well. These can be soaked along with your bottles and then left to dry. When drying the flip top lids, leave these open so that air can travel through the top without any moisture being trapped in the top’s hinges or lid. Keep the plastic away from direct sunlight, to preserve the life of the closures.
  • Once bottles are clean and dry, add your spices. Try your favourite salt varieties, pink or black peppercorns, coriander seeds, dried herbs, cardamom or any other spice that you enjoy. Visit your local spice market and buy your spices fresh. These are often better quality than pre-packaged spices you will find at a supermarket, and often have more flavour.
  • Or, reuse for non-spicy things. In addition to spice, there are many other non-spice things you can grind in a grinder. Sugar, Dorito’s, roasted sunflower or sesame seeds, Cornflakes poppy seeds, flaxseed, rice and even dried insects, if you are so inclined. Who says you have to limit your grinder to spices, after all?

Whatever you plan to do with your spice grinders once they’re clean and dried, remember that you can find a huge range of bottles, grinders and lids right here at Global Grinders.

Welcome to our new Global Grinders blog

As an introduction, we would like to let you know what you can look forward to. We plan to share with you interesting articles on packaging, recycling of materials, history of salts and spices and surprise you with some fascinating “did you knows”. We will also provide technical information, news about our new innovations and marketing tips, all gathered from our collective vast experience in the food packaging trade. We will be happy to answer any questions that you might have and, if we can’t help, we will refer you to someone that can.

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RECYCLING is always in the forefront of everyone’s mind when it comes to packaging. Here are a few interesting ways that recycled PET bottles are used:

  • In 2010, a famous brand of sportswear introduced the use of recycled PET into environmentally friendly jerseys for the soccer teams of Brazil, Portugal and Netherlands and their fans. In doing so over 12 million plastic bottles were diverted from the landfill.
  • Surfers around the world are wearing board shorts made with a material using 100% recycled PET. Each pair of board shorts is comprised of approximately 10 bottles.
  • For your beloved dog or cat – recycled plastic bottles are used to make comfortable beds to lie in and toys to chase around and rip apart.
  • 5 PET bottles are used to make up the fill for one ski jacket.
  • An innovative idea for planting in small gardens.

 

If you have any good recycling ideas, please let us know so that we can share them.