Sainsbury’s has announced its latest moves to reduce the amount of plastic it uses. This includes the retailer removing the plastic bags in its stores used for loose fruit, vegetables and bakery items.
By September, paper bags will be available to its customers for loose bakery items. Those buying loose fruit and vegetables will either be able to bring their own bags or buy a re-usable bag made from recycled materials. Sainsbury’s claims the move will cut 489 tonnes of plastic from its stores.
The initiative is part of a number steps the retailer is taking to remove a further 1,284 tonnes of plastic from its operations this year. This includes ditching plastic trays for asparagus, sweetcorn, tomatoes and carrots, plastic lids from cream pots and the plastic sleeves from herb pots. It is also removing plastic cutlery from its stores.
The moves are in addition to Sainsbury’s previous commitment to ensure all its plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. This will see it replace black plastic trays, plastic film, and PVC and polystyrene trays with recyclable alternatives.
Sainsbury’s confirmed yesterday that black plastic trays will be replaced with recyclable alternatives by the end of the year, with black ready-meal trays replaced within the next two months.
Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe commented: “We are absolutely committed to reducing unnecessary plastic packaging in Sainsbury’s stores. Our customers expect us to be leading the way on major issues like this, so I am determined to remove and replace plastic packaging where we can and offer alternatives to plastic where packaging is still required to protect a product.”
Earlier this week, Waitrose stepped up its efforts to reduce plastic waste with a new initiative that gives shoppers the option of buying food, drink and cleaning products in refillable containers.
