Meal Kit Packaging

Subscription meal kits arrive with a complex mix of packaging materials, meaning each individual component must be sorted and disposed of differently. The outer cardboard shipping box, paper recipe cards, and clean paper-based insulation are fully recyclable once flattened. However, synthetic components like foam liners, reflective foil bubble wrap, and plastic-lined thermal boxes are not accepted curbside and must go in the garbage. Small plastic containers under three inches wide should also be thrown in the trash because they easily fall through sorting machinery. Finally, always discard gel ice packs intact in the regular garbage, as the thick gel will clog plumbing systems if poured down the drain.