Sainsbury's issues huge packaging ban affecting each of its 1,400 stores

22 February 2023 , 15:26

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Sainsbury's is changing the packaging of its mince (Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Sainsbury’s has become the first UK retailer to vacuum pack all of its beef mince, in a move to help cut plastic waste.

The packaging will use a minimum of 55% less plastic and will be available both in-stores and online.

The supermarket says the new packaging, which will be used across all its beef mince products, will save an estimated 450 tonnes of plastic.

Sainsbury’s wants to halve its use of plastic packaging in own brand products by 2025.

The Big Four grocer was the first UK supermarket to remove plastic bags for loose fruit, vegetables and bakery items from all stores, as well as the first to remove all black plastic from chilled ready meals in 2019.

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Sainsbury’s and other supermarkets have also ditched all single-use plastic lids across its own-brand yoghurt, crème fraiche, sour cream, cream, cottage cheese, custard and dip pots.

What the new mince packaging looks like (Sainsbury’s)

Sainsbury's has around 600 supermarkets and 800 smaller Local convenience stores.

Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsbury’s, said: “We know our customers expect us to be reducing the use of plastic across our products are and we're constantly looking for new ways to innovate to meet our Plan for Better plastic reduction targets.

“We strive to be bold in the changes we are making, which is why we’re pleased to be the first UK retailer to vacuum pack all our beef mince range without impacting the quantity or great quality of product that our customers expect.

“This is the latest in a long line of changes we have pioneered in the space working collaboratively with our suppliers, and customers can expect much more to come from Sainsbury’s.”

Many retailers are cutting down on the amount of plastic they use because so much of it takes hundreds of years break down and ends up being washed into the sea.

Tesco announced in April 2022 it would be buying more fruit and vegetables loose as the supermarket speeds up plans to remove all plastic wrappers by 2025.

Tesco started telling suppliers to speed up scrapping plastic and either supply vegetables loose or in recyclable or compostable packets.

Budget supermarket Aldi also announced it would be removing all plastic shrink wrap from its multipack baked beans as part of plans to reduce its carbon footprint.

Aldi has also pledged to halve the volume of plastic packaging it uses by 2025.

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Morrisons has scrapped the dates on its own-brand milk, while many retailers have stopped putting the dates on vegetables.

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