Love a cold treat and wish you could get your hands on some plastic free ice cream? I’ve got you covered! Ice cream is the best dessert, especially on a hot summer day, but unfortunately, it often comes packaged in plastic.
We don’t have to settle for that! Here are my top three suggestions on how to get plastic free ice cream.
Ask a Local Ice Cream Shop for Zero Waste Ice Cream
If there’s a ice cream shop, van or gelato in your area – and there’s likely multiple – ask them to put the ice cream in your container. Just like asking for takeaway food in a container you brought, you can do the same at ice cream shops.
Just call ahead and ask. A simple way to ask would be: “I love your ice cream but I’m trying to avoid unnecessary packaging. If I bring in my own container, would you be willing to scoop the ice cream into that instead of the disposable container?”
Most ice cream shops, especially locally owned ones, will say yes! You can do this with a single serving or full sized pints, just be sure to bring the right size container to help the shop owners.
Brands That Sell Plastic Free Ice Cream
Storebought plastic free ice cream is harder to find, but there are some promising options!
Loop offers zero waste household, personal, and grocery items delivered to your door. You place a temporary, refundable deposit for the reusable container needed to deliver the product in. Then they deliver it to you door (waste free!) and when you return the packaging, you get your initial deposit back. They pick up packaging for free, and they offer Haagan Dazs ice cream!
Some companies are also switching to Sentinel, which is a paperboard coated with bio resin polyethylene made from sugarcane. This new material looks and acts like traditional ice cream packaging, but contains no plastic. However, it’s fair to be a bit skeptical about this packaging considering what we know about bioplastics.
Brands using this new packaging are:
- Coconut Bliss
- Oatly
- Nada Moo!
- Perfect Day
- Cremerie Swirl
- La Monarca Michocana
- Blue Marble
- Snow Monkey
- Wonderlab Doozy
Make Your Own Plastic Free Ice Cream
Making a DIY version is another great option. Most people don’t have an ice cream maker sitting around, but the following recipe can be made in a blender:
Single Serve Nice Cream
- 2 frozen, sliced bananas (slicing the banana before freezing is key!)
- ¼ cup milk
- Flavorings of choice: vanilla, cocoa powder, nuts, peanut butter, cookies, etc
To make nice cream, just use a high-speed blender and add all ingredients. You can add a little extra milk as you go if your blender is struggling. Get wild and add all the toppings your heart desires. You can also make it a bit runnier and add it to lolly moulds to enjoy later!
Which plastic free ice cream option are you going to opt for? Let me know in the comments below!
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