Concerned about single-use plastics? This cafe’s answer may surprise you
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A Perth cafe has found itself at the centre of an environmental debate after a social media post accused it of using too much plastic.
The images sparked frustration among some, while others defended the practice as necessary for food safety.
The cafe has since responded, clarifying that the packaging in question is biodegradable.
The controversy began when a local social media user shared photos showing baked goods like cake pops and cookies wrapped in plastic, even though they were displayed in a glass cabinet.
‘Can cafes stop normalising this level of plastic use?’ the poster wrote, adding: ‘Individually wrapping baked cookies and cakes. This isn’t required FFS.’
They identified the location as a cafe inside the Beatty Park Leisure Centre, comparing the display to ‘cling wrapped bananas’ and urging a reduction in single-use plastics.
Several commenters agreed, with one saying, ‘Right??? I see them in almost all cafes.’
Another added, ‘The cafe near me sells all those things—cookies and raw balls etc. It displays them in a refrigerated case on a tray, then sells them in paper bags.’
Others, however, argued the wrapping served a practical purpose.
One commenter claimed, ‘I currently work as a chef, most of the cling wrap you see there is biodegradable now. At our place we use that, we go through at least 5 big rolls a week.’
‘It stops them [from] going stale,’ another wrote, while someone else said, ‘Between the need to keep food fresh and the need to satisfy food safety requirements I can’t really blame them.’
Some pointed to overseas examples, with one remarking, ‘Ever been to Japan? You’ll think this is perfectly sane.’
A few suggested that greater environmental concerns lay in other sectors, mentioning the excessive packaging in agriculture and medicine.
In response, a cafe spokesperson told Kidspot that the bags in question were biodegradable cellophane and that the business actively sought eco-friendly options.
‘As a business we are always looking for [eco-friendly] alternatives. We use bio degradable cutlery and encourage customers to bring in keep cups for coffees,’ they said.
If you’ve ever wondered how far a café’s choices can push public opinion, this wasn’t the only recent case to stir debate.
Another business found itself under fire after its approach to packaging left customers fuming.
The backlash was swift—and the criticism even called it ‘behaviour from the 1960s’.
Read more: Outrage brews after café decision: 'It’s behaviour from the 1960s'
Do you think biodegradable plastic still counts as ‘overuse’?
The images sparked frustration among some, while others defended the practice as necessary for food safety.
The cafe has since responded, clarifying that the packaging in question is biodegradable.
The controversy began when a local social media user shared photos showing baked goods like cake pops and cookies wrapped in plastic, even though they were displayed in a glass cabinet.
‘Can cafes stop normalising this level of plastic use?’ the poster wrote, adding: ‘Individually wrapping baked cookies and cakes. This isn’t required FFS.’
They identified the location as a cafe inside the Beatty Park Leisure Centre, comparing the display to ‘cling wrapped bananas’ and urging a reduction in single-use plastics.
Plastic-wrapped treats spark heated café debate. Image source: Reddit
Several commenters agreed, with one saying, ‘Right??? I see them in almost all cafes.’
Another added, ‘The cafe near me sells all those things—cookies and raw balls etc. It displays them in a refrigerated case on a tray, then sells them in paper bags.’
Others, however, argued the wrapping served a practical purpose.
One commenter claimed, ‘I currently work as a chef, most of the cling wrap you see there is biodegradable now. At our place we use that, we go through at least 5 big rolls a week.’
‘It stops them [from] going stale,’ another wrote, while someone else said, ‘Between the need to keep food fresh and the need to satisfy food safety requirements I can’t really blame them.’
Some pointed to overseas examples, with one remarking, ‘Ever been to Japan? You’ll think this is perfectly sane.’
A few suggested that greater environmental concerns lay in other sectors, mentioning the excessive packaging in agriculture and medicine.
In response, a cafe spokesperson told Kidspot that the bags in question were biodegradable cellophane and that the business actively sought eco-friendly options.
‘As a business we are always looking for [eco-friendly] alternatives. We use bio degradable cutlery and encourage customers to bring in keep cups for coffees,’ they said.
If you’ve ever wondered how far a café’s choices can push public opinion, this wasn’t the only recent case to stir debate.
Another business found itself under fire after its approach to packaging left customers fuming.
The backlash was swift—and the criticism even called it ‘behaviour from the 1960s’.
Read more: Outrage brews after café decision: 'It’s behaviour from the 1960s'
Do you think biodegradable plastic still counts as ‘overuse’?
