Sainsbury’s introduces innovative bakery packaging to significantly cut down plastic usage.
- New packaging to replace plastic clam-shells with cardboard and paper for pastries and doughnuts.
- Expected 90% reduction in plastic use, saving 414 tonnes annually.
- Recyclable options for in-store bread to reduce plastic by 60%, saving 152 tonnes per year.
- Part of broader sustainability efforts including past initiatives like switching mushroom packaging.
Sainsbury’s has taken a significant step towards environmental sustainability with the introduction of new bakery packaging. This initiative primarily targets a reduction in plastic waste, aligning with the broader ecological goals set by the retailer. By transitioning from plastic clam-shell packaging to cardboard and paper alternatives, Sainsbury’s aims to achieve a dramatic reduction of 90% in plastic usage for several of its products, including doughnuts and pastries.
The specific changes involve using card boxes with small windows for doughnuts, and paper bags for twin-pastries, croissants, and cinnamon swirls. These modifications are designed not only to minimise plastic waste but also to enhance the recyclability of the packaging. The projected impact is substantial, with an annual reduction of 414 tonnes of plastic, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainable practices.
In addition to pastries, Sainsbury’s is also revising its packaging for in-store bakery bread. Loaves, baguettes, and batons will no longer be fully encased in plastic bags. Instead, they will be packaged in recyclable bags with a small plastic window. This change is expected to cut plastic use by 60%, which translates into a savings of 152 tonnes of plastic each year. The new packaging is user-friendly, allowing consumers to easily separate and recycle components at home or at in-store recycling points.
This packaging update is part of an ongoing series of environmental improvements by Sainsbury’s. The retailer had recently made headlines by replacing plastic packaging with cardboard for their own-brand mushrooms, marking the largest plastic reduction effort in its grocery line to date, saving an impressive 775 tonnes of plastic annually. Such efforts underscore Sainsbury’s dedication to reducing its environmental footprint and promoting sustainability across its operations.
Sainsbury’s continues to lead by example in sustainability efforts with effective steps to reduce plastic waste in bakery packaging.
