Reusable takeaway tins scheme scoops up international Cittaslow award

A year-long pilot project offering takeaway food customers in Mold and Caerwys the choice of ditching single-use plastic and cardboard packaging, gained international recognition at the weekend winning the prestigious Cittaslow Chiocciola Orange 2021 Award.

The innovative Naked Takeaway scheme sees reusable food containers offered to customers in Mold at Alexander’s Pizza, Asia Sensation, Spoons and Forks, and The Gathering – and in Caerwys at On the Corner Café.

Working alongside Mold, Caerwys and Llangollen Town Councils and Mold Plastic Reduction, the takeaway owners have introduced tiffin tins (a reusable, stainless steel set of stacking tins) or aluminium pizza cases, both of which can be used time and again for takeaway food containers.

Naked Takeaway was entered into the environmental category of the Cittaslow Chiocciola Orange 2021 Award. The reusable food containers scheme was voted overall winner of all seven categories at an online event held during the Cittaslow International Assembly on 12 June.

In taking top spot, Mold made history by becoming the first UK town to win the Cittaslow accolade.

Sam Hubbard, from Mold Plastic Reduction, attended the virtual ceremony, accepting the Award on behalf of Mold, Llangollen and Caerwys.

Both Mold and Llangollen are members of the worldwide Cittaslow network of towns, which fosters economic, social and environmental sustainability in 30 countries.

Launched in January 2021, the Naked Takeaway pilot scheme is the brainchild of Mold, Caerwys and Llangollen Town Councils which, with support from community groups and interested businesses in the area, have been awarded a grant from the Welsh Government Circular Economy Fund.

The councils are working together to reduce their environmental impact and support a more circular economy – one in which items are reused, repaired, swapped and borrowed rather than thrown away and replaced with new products.

The Welsh Government Circular Economy Fund aims to drive forward its objective of taking action to phase out single-use plastic. Findings from the Naked Takeaway pilot project in Flintshire could pave the way for other towns to set up similar reusable food takeaway container schemes with their businesses.

For further information about the Naked Takeaway, please contact Joanna Douglass, Mold Town Council Business and Development Officer, by email business@moldtowncouncil.org.uk or phone 01352 758532. Or visit Mold Plastic Reduction website https://moldplasticreduction.org

Captions:

Presenting the Cittaslow Chiocciola Orange 2021 Award to Sam Hubbard from Mold Plastic Reduction are in Orvieto, Italy, Pier Giorgio Oliveti, secretary general Cittaslow; Prof. Giuseppe Roma, chair of the Cittaslow scientific committee and the judging panel; and Mauro Migliorini, Cittaslow president. 

Ian Jones, town clerk and finance officer Mold Town Council, with Cllr Haydn Jones, deputy mayor, holding the Cittaslow Chiocciola Orange 2021 Award certificate and Jo Douglass, Mold Town Council business and regeneration officer who is leading on the Naked Takeaway pilot.