08 January 2024 , 19:32
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Sainsbury’s is set to cut more than 775 tons of plastic as it changes the packaging for its own brand mushrooms - the same weight of around 43 double decker buses.
The supermarket chain is to use cardboard trays to all its own-brand lines including top sellers such as whole baby button, closed cup, organic and chestnut mushrooms by the end of the month. The move is the retailer’s biggest ever single plastics removal in its history and is the equivalent to more than 52 million pieces of plastic a year.
Claire Hughes, director of product and innovation, said: “As part of our Plan for Better commitments, we are trying to reduce plastic packaging across our own brand ranges. We are delighted to introduce cardboard punnets for our own-brand mushrooms. Making a collective effort with suppliers to increasing recycled content and recyclability for all customers has helped achieve our biggest ever plastics removal so far.
The initiative reflects our commitment towards a healthier and more sustainable future as we continue to look at ways to innovate our packaging and reduce and replace plastic where possible.”
The move to the mushroom packaging echoes its changes to all toilet and kitchen rolls last September, which saved around 485 tons of plastic every year. The supermarket also removed plastic trays from its tomatoes in 2020, saving around 75 tonnes of plastic a year and asparagus in 2019, saving around 32 tonnes of plastic a year.
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The move has been made on its mushroom range (Sainsbury's)Ms Hughes said at the time: “We sell thousands of our own brand toilet tissue and kitchen roll products every week and by switching from plastic to paper on these household staples, we’re able to make a significant impact in reducing plastic. This change alone represents the biggest plastic reduction in our grocery products so far and our customers can expect many more changes to come.
“Collaborating with our suppliers to develop innovative packaging solutions to reduce plastic is a major key priority for Sainsbury’s, helping us to achieve our ambitious target of increasing recycled content and recyclability.” Other supermarkets are expected to follow suit as the Government proposed measures to bring pre-packaged fruit and vegetables to an end.