Small swaps, real impact — a UK guide from That Protein
Plastic Free July isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about looking at what we throw away every week and asking a quieter question: does it need to be plastic at all? For most of us, the answer for protein is no — and the swaps are easier than they look.
At That Protein, we've spent the last decade thinking about this, because protein powder is one of the worst offenders in the sustainability conversation. The average tub is a black plastic body with a plastic scoop and a foil seal that all end up in landfill within weeks of arriving. Multiply that across a country of protein drinkers and you're looking at hundreds of thousands of unrecyclable tubs a year.
There's a better way. Here's how we do it — and how you can too.
What "sustainable protein" actually means
Sustainable protein is more than the ingredient. It's the full journey: how the plants are grown, how the powder is packaged, how it gets to your kitchen, and what happens to the container when you've finished it.
Any brand can put a leaf on the label. The four things worth checking are:
- Plant-based, not animal-based. Whey and casein rely on the dairy industry, which is one of the highest-emissions food categories in the world. Plant proteins — pea, rice, hemp — use a fraction of the water and land, and don't produce methane.
- Made with organic ingredients, not conventional. Organic farming skips the synthetic pesticides and nitrogen fertilisers that leach into groundwater and damage soil biology. Better for the planet, better for your gut.
- Recyclable packaging. Look for compostable pouches, cardboard tubes, or aluminium tins — not black plastic tubs (which most UK councils reject anyway because their sorting machines can't detect them).
- UK-blended, UK-shipped. Every thousand miles a product travels adds carbon. Powders blended in the UK for the UK market are quietly one of the highest-impact choices you can make.
Five swaps you can make this July
1. Swap black plastic tubs for pouches or tubes
Black plastic isn't recyclable in most UK councils. Even the ones that accept it often can't actually process it. Compostable pouches or cardboard tubes break down; plastic tubs sit in landfill for 400 years.
Try: Any of our range comes in recyclable packaging. The Blissful Double Choc and Brown Rice & Raw Cacao are FODMAP Friendly certified for anyone managing IBS as well.
2. Swap dairy protein for plant protein
Not for taste — the good plant proteins are indistinguishable from whey now — but for footprint. A single kilogram of pea protein produces around 90% less CO₂ than a kilogram of whey, and uses roughly a tenth of the water.
Try: Chirpy Chirpy Choca Mocha (low FODMAP at a 20g serving) or Perfectly Pure Porridge if you want an unflavoured option.
3. Swap the disposable shaker for a proper bottle
The average protein-drinker in the UK gets through 6–10 disposable water bottles a week alongside their shaker. A stainless steel bottle lasts a decade and costs less than three months of single-use plastic.
Same with the shaker — most cheap ones crack within a year. Buy one good one and use it forever.
4. Swap "convenience bars" for homemade
Most shop-bought protein bars are wrapped in a plastic-film-and-foil composite that's fundamentally unrecyclable. Homemade bars — porridge oats, peanut butter, a scoop of protein, a splash of maple syrup — take five minutes and travel in a tin.
Our recipe archive has a dozen low FODMAP protein snacks that batch well and keep for a week in the fridge.
5. Swap short-life plans for a subscription
Subscribing to a protein you actually use means one delivery every 4–6 weeks instead of individual boxes every 2 weeks, which cuts packaging materials, shipping runs, and impulse-buys that end up unused at the back of a cupboard. Better for you, better for the planet, better for your wallet.
What we do at That Protein
We're not perfect and we don't claim to be. Here's what we've actually committed to:
- All UK-blended. We don't ship pre-packaged product from overseas. Every pouch is filled in the UK.
- Recyclable packaging across the range. Pouches are recyclable, cardboard shipping cartons are FSC-certified.
- Made with organic ingredients where available. Our raw cacao is organic, our brown rice is UK-grown organic, our hemp is European organic.
- Low FODMAP where possible. Blissful Double Choc and Brown Rice & Raw Cacao are both FODMAP Friendly certified. Nutty Nutty is low FODMAP at a 20g serving. Not medical advice — but if you're managing IBS, gentle on the gut is part of gentle on the planet.
- We answer emails. If you want to know exactly where a specific ingredient came from, ask. Patrick or Darlene (co-founders) will reply personally.
One thing to try this week
Pick one swap from the five above. Just one. Not all of them at once, not "start on Monday" — pick the easiest one and do it now.
That's how Plastic Free July actually works. It's not about doing everything. It's about noticing what's in your kitchen and asking whether it needs to be there.
If you've made a swap you're proud of, tag us — @thatprotein on Instagram. We repost the good ones.
General guidance for sustainability and nutrition — not medical advice. If you're managing IBS, coeliac disease or another condition, always follow guidance from a registered dietitian or your GP.
Patrick & Darlene — co-founders, That Protein