Sainsbury’s is introducing crownless pineapples in its latest move to reduce waste.
Crownless pineapples, which are the same as a traditional pineapple but with the green leaves (the crown) removed, will be available in-store and online from tomorrow. The retailer noted that the new product will be ready to eat upon purchase, with no need to ripen the fruit at home.
The crown of a pineapple is typically thrown away by consumers at home, so by removing it for recycling during the production process, Sainsbury’s is helping to cut down on food-related waste. It will be only big four grocer to offer crownless pineapples.
The removed crowns will either be replanted in the pineapple fields or shredded and given to local farmers to be used for animal feed, reducing waste by 700 tonnes annually.
By removing the crown during production, Sainsbury’s can also fit more of the product into each box it ships to stores, resulting in a reduction of 2,500 boxes transported per year.
The retailer is also removing all packaging previously attached to the standard-size pineapple, further reducing the waste usually thrown away at home.
Sainsbury’s will continue to sell a large pineapple, which will remain with its leaves attached, to offer customers choice.
“We’re passionate about reducing our impact on the planet wherever we can, and we’re always looking for new and unique ways to make bold changes with sustainability in mind,” said Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation.
“Our new crownless pineapples may look a little out of the ordinary, but they offer very clear benefits in reducing waste and packaging. We hope that our customers will embrace the change with the knowledge that this quirky fruit is helping us to repurpose waste within our supply chain, as well as helping to reduce waste in their homes too.”
