Sainsbury’s has stepped up its efforts to tackle packaging waste by pledging to halve the amount of plastic used in its stores by 2025. The new target includes all branded food packaging, Sainsbury’s own label lines, and packaging across all of its operations.
The company stated that a “transformational leap in thinking” was needed to move the grocery industry beyond existing efforts at reducing packaging waste. Sainsbury’s reduced its plastic packaging by just 1% in 2018.
To meet its new goal, Sainsbury’s is launching a programme aimed at accelerating change, which will include switching to alternative materials, using lighter-weight plastics and introducing refillable packaging. After “rigorous analysis” of its plastic footprint, the retailer said the key areas of focus for the biggest impact would be plastic milk bottles, packaging for fruit and vegetables, fizzy drinks, water and fruit juices.
For example, Sainsbury’s is reviewing alternative options for milk including the introduction of refillable bottles, returnable milk bottles, or offering a reusable jug with milk in a lightweight plastic pouch.
To support its plan, Sainsbury’s stated that it would “pioneer new ways to collaborate” with food manufacturers, packaging suppliers, raw material scientists and other retailers, alongside the waste and recycling industry. This begun today with Sainsbury’s co-hosting a summit with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which has brought together branded suppliers, researchers and government stakeholders to identify potential breakthrough innovation projects.
Sainsbury’s has also launched an area on its website where customers, staff, manufacturers, and other interested parties can submit ideas to help reduce plastic packaging.
Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Mike Coupe said: “We have set ourselves a bold ambition because we understand that we urgently need to reduce our impact on the planet and to help drive change across our industry.
“Reducing plastic and packaging is not easy. Packaging plays a vital role in keeping our food safe and fresh and minimising food waste. We must therefore find alternatives to plastic that protect the quality of our food while minimising our impact on the environment.
“We can’t do this on our own and we will be asking our suppliers and our customers to work with us to help us make this important change.”
Last month, Tesco suggested it could drop brands from its shelves that use non-recyclable and unnecessary packaging. Meanwhile, Iceland has made a similar promise to Sainsbury’s in pledging to get rid of plastic in all its own label products by the end of 2023.
