Happy Plastic Free July! This month, we're taking the opportunity to reflect on our current packaging goals for the future.
At Mount Zero, our aim is to apply the same principles of sustainability to our packaging and distribution that we use in our farming practices. In essence, this means reducing the use of synthetic petrochemical based products and applying a biological solution.
We're also celebrating the venues and retailers who – amongst their other commitments to operating sustainably – also use our Mount Zero fusti, or stainless steel kegs which house 15L of our extra virgin olive oil. These returnable, refillable tanks are a fantastic option for our wholesale customers, providing a food-safe and efficient closed-loop system of reusable packaging. They're plastic and waste-free, NSF certified and designed in a way that facilitates cleaning, allowing them to be reused safely. They prevent single-use packaging from going to landfill and reduce the resources used for recycling.
You can learn more about our sustainable packaging here, and read on to find out more about our amazing partners taking advantage of Mount Zero fusti!
Shop 111-113 Ormond Road Elwood VIC 3184
728 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn VIC 3122
Your village grocer, The Leaf Store sources conventional and organic products from the best local growers, farmers and suppliers. The team believe in "keeping food as close to the source as possible", and they look to reduce waste and packaging as often as possible.
You can also free pour your own Mount Zero olive oil in-store at Leaf! Just grab a bottle and barcode from staff, fill and then checkout when you're ready to go.
208 Nicholson Street Footscray VIC 3011
Founded in 2018 with the goal of making it more attainable for the average person to shop more sustainably, Ecopact focus is on reducing single-use packaging and environmental impact through sustainable food and grocery options. This ranges from bulk food to recycled or compostable packaging, and also takes into account where and how the product is created.
Like Leaf Store, you can use the Mount Zero stainless steel tanks in-store to get your fill of fresh EVOO too!
CERES Organic Grocery & Bakery
Corner Roberts & Stewart Streets Brunswick East VIC 3057
A vibrant outdoor organic grocer and bakery, this East Brunswick spot is unmissable if you're after the freshest produce – with some sourced directly from their market gardens!
You can also bring in your own recycled plastic and glass jars and get your fill of organic bulk foods, liquids and environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Head along for live music (and great coffee!) every Saturday morning and meet the local producers at their makers market.
Level 55, Rialto Towers 525 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000
A culinary institution, Vue de monde has been dedicated to providing an unparalleled dining experience since 2000.
They achieve this through a holistic approach to their restaurant's operations – from seeking out local produce, manufacturers and designers, to striving for the highest levels of technique, service and quality. In 2011, Vue de monde made the move to Melbourne's Rialto Towers to help improve their carbon footprint though utilising the latest kitchen technology, and they continue to work proactively to be as sustainable as possible.
"I want to be the first closed loop, zero food waste restaurant group in Australia," says founder Shannon Bennett. "It's all about doing what we can, sustainability is a challenging area with many contradictions and sometimes misinformation. Our philosophy is that we cannot sit idly by and wait for instruction, we should do what we can right now to help our planet. One day I hope that Vue de monde can become carbon neutral and offset the energy that’s used everyday to put each meal on the plate."
164 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000
Each dish crafted at Hazel – by chefs Brianna Smith and Oliver Edwards – is grounded in a DIY philosophy. Their menu that celebrates the seasons, low-waste cooking and sustainable sourcing, and you'll often find them in the kitchen pickling, preserving and fermenting – even using leftover bread baked in-house to create sourdough miso.
Hazel carefully selects the producers they work with, focussing on those who value sustainable methods, animal welfare and time-honoured traditions.
19 Ovens Street
Brunswick VIC 3056
A micro bakery in the backstreets of Brunswick.
Since opening in 2017 with a rare secondhand commercial oven, Oven Street Bakery has become a community hub, regularly selling out of their sourdough loaves and sweet pastries as well as delivering to selected areas across the city.
The team also sell a bunch of goodies that pair perfectly with their coveted loaves, including our Australian Wild Olives and Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
99 Rose Street Fitzroy VIC 3065
Offering a refined dining experience inside their eco-friendly space, Transformer Fitzroy takes a seasonal approach across many aspects of the business. Their menu and wine list change with the seasons, celebrating produce at its best, supporting organic and biodynamic practices and sourcing from local, small-scale producers where possible.
The team are also behind 100% plant-based gelato and dessert spot Girls & Boys, and Fitzroy favourite Vegie Bar.
If you're a wholesale customer interested in using our returnable stainless steel tanks, you can contact us at [email protected].
