Sainsbury’s is introducing packaging changes across its own-brand chicken and fish lines, as part of what it describes as a “significant step towards our plastic reduction goals”.
The retailer says the changes, shifting from plastic to pulp cardboard packaging, will lead to it saving 694 tonnes of plastic a year.
The changes will see Sainsbury’s own-brand salmon fillet trays switch from pulp cardboard instead of plastic, in a UK retailer first, which will result in 70% less plastic, saving 346 tonnes a year, it said.
It said the new trays are made from sugarcane pulp and are lined with polyethene film.
Furthermore, Sainsbury’s is also rolling out cardboard trays across its Taste the Difference and By Sainsbury’s breaded chicken lines, which it says will save 300 tonnes of plastic a year. The supermarket is also making the same changes to its Taste the Difference breaded fish fillets, saving around 48 tonnes of plastic annually.
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The new packaging will be introduced throughout the summer across many seasonal chicken favourites, including breaded goujons, nuggets and schnitzels, as well as the supermarket’s finger food and BBQ range.
The retailer said the pulp cardboard trays and cardboard packaging are easily recyclable, helping customers to reduce their household waste.
Sainsbury’s director of product and innovation Claire Hughes said: “With salmon being one of our most popular fish, we made it a priority to reduce the plastic on the packaging of this much loved product as we work towards our Plan for Better goals.
“We are now the first retailer to make the move to have recycled pulp card trays across all our by Sainsbury’s and Taste the Difference salmon products, enabling a whopping 70% plastic reduction. Together with changes to our breaded fish and chicken packaging, we are set to save 694 tonnes of plastic a year – a significant step towards our plastic reduction goals.”
Earlier this year, the retailer launched a new in-store marketing campaign to further showcase its supply chain and sustainability credentials.
Orange point of sale signs with the slogan ‘Good to Know’ have been introduced in its stores and will be featured on packaging and across a new radio campaign later this year.
