16 May 2023 , 13:38
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Co-op is introducing new vacuum packaging for its beef mince products across its stores from this week.
The supermarket chain said the move was to help reduce its plastic waste and says that the change of packaging will help save 138 tonnes of plastic waste each year.
Co-op told the Mirror that the new vac-pack packaging format will start to appear on its store shelves this week and after a staggered rollout they will eventually be sold across all sites.
The packaging changes will also affect beef mince sold in Nisa stores.
A spokesperson for the Co-op told the Mirror: “We are pleased to introduce new recyclable vacuum packaging on our 100% British mince, which ensures great quality British meat, increases shelf life to help minimise food waste, and helps save over 138 tonnes of plastic each year.”
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There will be 11 Co-op products that will have their packaging change going forward and they include:
- Co-op 5% Fat British Lean Beef Steak Mince 500G
- Co-op 5% Fat Scottish Lean Beef Steak Mince 500G
- Co-op British Beef Mince 12% Fat 450G
- Co-op Honest Value British 20% Fat Beef Mince 500G
- Co-op Irresistible Aberdeen Angus Fresh Minced Beef 500G
- Co-op Irresistible Hereford 5% Fat Mince 450G
- Co-op Irresistible Hereford Beef Mince 500G
- Co-op Scottish Beef Mince 12% Fat 450G
- Co-op Welsh 5% Fat Beef Mince 500G
- Co-op Welsh Beef Mince 12% Fat 450G
- Co-op 20% Fat British Lean Beef Steak Mince (Nisa wholesale only)
You will be able to recycle the new packaging at in-store recycling points within Co-op and other major supermarket stores.
Co-op is aiming to have the packaging widely recyclable by the end of the year.
The move to the vac-pack mirrors a move by Sainsbury's earlier this year.
In February, Sainsbury’s became the first supermarket in the UK to vacuum pack its mince to become more sustainable and reduce their plastic waste.
The supermarket chain said the new packaging uses 55% less plastic than the traditional plastic tray covered with film.
However, customers on social media demanded Sainsbury's reverse its decision, describing the new appearance of its beef products as “meat grown in a lab.”
Others said the packaging change made the meat turn to "mush" and another said it was the "nearest thing to baby food" and "was horrible".
Sainsbury's defended the move several times and said it was "committed" to making "bold changes" for its customers and the environment.
Richard Crampton, director of fresh food at Sainsbury’s said: "This small change makes a big difference, more than halving the plastic used in our beef mince range and also reducing food waste.
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"We are always listening to feedback and can see lots of our customers are already getting used to the change.”