In the heart of Alicetown, KB Kombucha is making waves in waste reduction. Robin was a late convert, but his enthusiasm has made KB Kombucha into a sustainable business. 

With four kombucha flavours on tap, locals can bring their own container to fill completely waste-free. Heads up though; plastic or metal containers aren’t recommended unless you’re drinking the kombucha on the same day. Customers come in with all kinds of glass containers, including old fancy beer bottles. 

KB Kombucha encourages customers to bring their empties back whenever possible. The labels are removed and the bottles washed and sterilised. They’re then reused to house the next batch of fizzy goodness. The business saves 400 -500 bottles a week from ending up in recycling bins around Wellington. Young people are especially keen to do their bit, he says. 

Local cafes and restaurants are also on board. 1154 Pastaria, Verve Cafe and Magnetix Cafe are just a few of the stockists that save the used bottles and give them back to KB Kombucha for reuse. The boxes used to transport the drinks are reused too. Most go out five or six times before they get too worn to use. Even the backing of the label stickers are re-purposed as packing material when sending out orders. 

“We’re not saints by any means, but we do the best we can. Everybody has to join the party!” 

Find KB Kombucha at 444 Cuba Street, Alicetown. Support local and shop waste-free.