“A problem for me is always an opportunity.” Toni Desrosiers is talking about the dilemma of food waste, “like slimy herbs, dried-out lemons and mouldy cheese,” she says. “Once you realize it’s your food wrap that causes these problems, changing it eliminates all the frustration.” Toni is the founder of Victoria-based Abeego, the world’s first reusable beeswax food wrap, a natural food-storage solution available at more than 40 stores across Canada, including Thrifty Foods and Safeway. It’s made from beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin, which is infused into a hemp and cotton cloth. And following nature’s lead, it mimics fruit and vegetable peels, keeping out light and retaining moisture, while letting gases escape. Abeego is self-adhesive, durable, easy to wash, 100% compostable and lasts for up to a year – letting you keep produce fresh, stash leftovers, cover bowls, store cheese and much more. The Abeego partnership is a great example of how Sobeys is encouraging shoppers to go green at the grocery store, efforts that began with removing single-use grocery bags from the checkouts and continue with other innovative products, including the promotion of reusable cloth and mesh produce bags. So far, people are hooked. “Abeego has been incredibly well-received and we have a very loyal customer base,” Toni says. Our consumer is moving in the direction we all need to be moving in,” she says, “using more reusable products, being more mindful of our food and our food waste, and of our impact on the environment. About 40% of all food produced in North America ends up being wasted, and 42% of that is fruits and vegetables. Formerly a holistic nutritionist, Toni began her mission to end food waste and promote the power of beeswax in 2008. From the beginning, Toni made it her mission to be transparent about the ingredients that make up the food wrapper. In 2010, she wrote the full list of ingredients directly on the package, and that’s where you’ll find them to this day. Naturally, there are a few ground rules, each ingredient has to be: In addition to these guidelines, Abeego also has a few core values, principles that act as a thread, linking the entire project. You can find Abeego products at Thrifty Foods, select Safeway stores and online at Volià.ca
Creating a more eco-conscious community.
