Whether it is consumer demand, a heightened sense of corporate responsibility or new government developments on the horizon, something has certainly clicked for plastic-free packaging in UK supermarkets. From Tesco to Sainsbury’s and Morrisons the visible commitment to plastic-free packaging is becoming more evident on our supermarket shelves every day.
Plastic-free packaging in UK supermarkets
What’s happening? Let’s take a look at the bold measures leading UK supermarkets are taking to increase their use of plastic-free packaging.
Tesco
When the UK’s biggest supermarket decides to make demonstrable commitments to reducing plastic waste, you know that change is truly on the way. According to the Guardian.com UK supermarkets are responsible for over ‘800,000 tonnes of plastic waste’ every year, contributing to more than half of the total annual plastic waste generated from UK households. 1
To much applause, Tesco have announced plans to stop selling tinned multipacks in plastic wrap for both its own and major brands, such as Heinz and John West. Instead, Tesco has pledged to cut 350 tonnes of their plastic waste by allowing customers to simply buy multiple single tins to gain a multi-buy saving.
In fact, according to Dave Lewis, the chief executive, this is only the beginning. Lewis states that by the end of 2020 Tesco plans to replace a staggering one billion pieces of plastic from its stocks.2 A monstrous figure that will see Tesco working in partnership with leading global brands including Kraft and Princes to achieve its admirable target.
Clearly there is much change on the way and it will be interesting to see how far-reaching the impact of these eco-friendly changes are. Take a look at our extensive range of options for retail packaging.
Sainsbury’s
Not to be outdone, Sainsbury’s has also announced its plans for a plastic-free future. Sainsbury’s has taken things one step further by pledging to go to an all-out Net Zero by 2040.
Clearly one could argue that by 2040 Sainsbury’s will have no choice but to have become a ‘Net Zero’, eco-friendly business, but whatever the case, they have set aside an impressive sum of one billion pounds to ensure that this statement becomes a reality.
That at least, deserves some recognition, as well as the fact that 2040 is a full 10 years earlier than the dates set out in government targets, as well as those detailed in the Paris Agreement on climate change.
To its credit, Sainsbury’s does hold a six-year long winning streak for its strategies in support of climate change.
Indeed it has now set out a comprehensive programme of action across 7 key areas covering everything from biodiversity to plastic packaging, water waste and carbon emissions. A programme of change on this scale may well prove to set the gold standards for UK supermarkets. The company’s plastic packaging use alone, they say, is set to half by 2025.
It will be interesting to see how Sainsbury’s competitors respond over the next five years. Find out more about plastic-free food packaging on our food packaging page.
Iceland
Iceland’s approach has been more cautious with the launch of a trial programme in South East England concentrated on its arguably less impactful fresh produce. That said, Iceland have set a goal of a 93% reduction in plastic packaging on its 38 lines of fresh produce which is no mean feat.
With Iceland’s impending target to eliminate all plastic packaging from its own branded products by 2023, one would expect to see the initiative in some form rolled out across its stores nationwide very soon.
Iceland has opted to introduce 29 plastic-free or reduced plastic alternatives in two stages with a second wave of plastic-free packaging on its way in March.
Aldi
In a reminder that plastic-free packaging is in fact a common goal across the globe, Aldi too has launched its own plastic-free packaging changes in the form of reusable bags for fresh produce.
Made from recycled plastic bottles, Aldi’s reusable bags remove the need for single-use plastic bags, saving on what they hope will be over 100 tonnes of plastic waste annually. On trial in Scotland and Northern England, at the cost of 25p each, the bags are just one part of Aldi’s long term pledge to reduce its plastic packaging use by 25%.
Having managed to eliminate over 550 tonnes of plastic packaging from its inventory since 2018, Aldi is clearly well on its way to achieving its aims. For further ideas about plastic-free alternatives browse our full range of plastic-free materials.
Morrisons
Morrisons has joined the growing number of retailers who have stopped using black plastic packaging trays for its ready meals, by replacing its black trays with a more environmentally friendly plastic that can be easily recycled
The difficulties in recycling the widely used black packaging trays have been well-known across the industry for the last ten years. It is heartening to see Morrisons take a stand and do away with a material that was once so prized for its convenience and cost-effective advantages.
Yet, black plastic packaging has somewhat unfairly gained a terrible reputation as a material that is impossible to recycle rather than merely difficult to recycle. However the damage is done and in these more woke times the justification for using a material that is so awkward to recycle is hard to find.
A sign perhaps of the level of expectation that we are to have for our packaging choices in the years to come.
What next for plastic-free packaging in UK supermarkets?
I hope this round-up of recent trends and innovation in supermarket plastic-free packaging has been useful. We plan to do this on a regular basis for all our of plastic-free and cartonboard packaging materials.
If you are looking for retail packaging materials or food packaging solutions for your products we have a vast range available from our trusted suppliers and manufacturers. Give us a call on 01622 882280 or request a call back from us.
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