Turning Trash into Treasure — and Warmth! Partnering with the Chip Packet Project to Support Those Doing it Tough

At Satisfy Food Rescue, we’re always looking for innovative, sustainable ways to reduce waste and support our community — so when we heard about the Chip Packet Project, we knew we had to learn more.

Phillipa and Jessie getting started

On Thursday 22nd May, we had the pleasure of welcoming Jessie Ladbrook, the driving force behind the South Island arm of the Chip Packet Project NZ, to our Kaiapoi HQ.

Jessie arrived with a bundle of curiosity-sparking materials: used chip packets, recycled plastic collected from Mitre 10 pallet covers, and a couple of trusty irons.

It was time for some hands-on learning.

The Chip Packet Project is an inspiring initiative that repurposes clean, used chip packets into thermal survival blankets.

Experimenting with a section of the blanket

These blankets are then distributed to people experiencing homelessness — helping to provide warmth, comfort, and dignity during tough times.

It was amazing to see the process in action.

Jessie laid everything out, and our team members Phillipa and Michelle got stuck in on a small section of the blanket — carefully assembling and sealing the packets together using heat and recycled plastic.

The result? A surprisingly sturdy, waterproof, heat-reflective blanket that looks like a patchwork of crisp packets but holds warmth like a proper survival tool.

A blanket that Jessie made earlier

What struck us most was how clever and accessible the process is. It takes something that would otherwise go straight to landfill and transforms it into something useful, even lifesaving.

It aligns beautifully with our mission at Satisfy — to redirect waste in a way that uplifts people and protects the planet.

We’re now exploring ways Satisfy and the Chip Packet Project can work together to support the distribution of these blankets.

With our strong connections across North Canterbury and Christchurch — from food banks and shelters to social service agencies — we’re excited by the potential of combining forces to get these blankets into the hands of people who need them most.

Thank you, Jessie, for sharing your knowledge, passion, and innovation with us. We’re looking forward to seeing where this partnership takes us.

Because when local organisations collaborate, we can multiply the good.

Jessie with Phillipa showing off a completed product.

Learn more about the Chip Packet Project:  https://www.chippacketproject.org