Our mission
Restore is on a mission to give consumers real plastic-free options and to support excellent farmers by connecting them to us in the city.
The plastic problem
We can all see an urgent need to reduce our reliance on plastic. The idea for Restore started by the harbour in North Sydney. Every time it rains, the pristine water is inundated with plastic pollution carried by stormwater that originates in our local streets. The source of much of that plastic: the weekly supermarket shop.
While there is a wonderful community that cleans the beaches regularly, the cycle is doomed to repeat with each storm unless we stop plastic at the source.
Despite our best efforts to shop plastic-free, the options are limited. Even cherry tomatoes and strawberries come in hard plastic punnets. The big players are not doing enough. They are wedded to the cheapness and convenience of single-use plastic packaging. But that model has consequences for our health and the health of the planet.
The farmer's problem
Meanwhile, our farming sector under tremendous pressure. Natural disasters and supermarket price wars leave many of our local farmers in a perilous position.
That whole system is unsustainable. The big players are not doing enough.
A healthy farming sector is an important part of a healthy society. There has to be a better way!
The launch of The Restore Project
Surely we weren’t the only ones feeling this way?!
From July-September 2023, we turned to our community for help and conducted surveys and consultations with North Shore residents. The response was overwhelming!
Over 400 local residents responded to the call-outs. The results showed us that the community is very concerned (95%) about the amount of plastic packaging their households produce, and that they are motivated to reduce plastic usage at home with 78% choosing to buy products that are better for the environment.
Out of those conversations, The Restore Project was born. Restore is a disruptive grocery service that has no single-use plastic and no waste. That means we’re working directly with Australian farmers and producers to get the best produce for you. We deliver it to your door in reused containers. When you’re done, we collect the containers for refilling and return. It’s an entirely circular system which is better for the environment.
This is not new. It’s simply restoring what we once had. Taking us back to our grandparents’ days when there was no single-use plastic. The milkman supplied our neighbourhoods for decades with milk in reused glass bottles.
Restore is empowering consumers to take real action in their own homes. It’s giving them a real choice that will make a big difference to their local environment and community.
The Restore Project was started by Dominic Ryan who set out to offer a real alternative for buying dairy that is better for consumers, farmers and the planet. He has a background in startup and sustainable businesses.