Sainsbury’s has recently made a significant sustainability move by switching from plastic to cardboard packaging for its steak products. This change is expected to reduce plastic waste by approximately 10 million pieces and 249 tonnes per year. The new packaging was introduced on July 5th across 10 different products.
This initiative is part of Sainsbury’s ongoing efforts to enhance its sustainability practices. The company has already implemented similar changes to its Taste the Difference and So Organic steak ranges. Furthermore, Sainsbury’s successfully eliminated plastic trays for whole chickens in April, as well as the plastic bags for its banana range, resulting in a substantial reduction in packaging waste. In fact, the removal of plastic bags for bananas alone aimed to save 192 tonnes of plastic.
In another groundbreaking move, Sainsbury’s became the first UK retailer to transition to cardboard cartons for its own-brand liquid laundry detergent range. This switch alone saves an impressive 22 tonnes of plastic each year, according to Sainsbury’s.
Claire Hughes, Sainsbury’s Director of Product and Innovation, emphasized that reducing plastic packaging is a crucial element of their sustainability commitments. She stated, “As part of our Plan for Better commitments, we are striving to reduce plastic packaging in our own brand ranges. We understand that reducing plastic is important to our customers and also essential for minimizing our environmental impact.”
Sainsbury’s Plan for Better is a comprehensive sustainability measure that aligns the company’s strategies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Alongside sustainability, the initiative focuses on improving health and protecting human rights.
Hughes further explained, “That’s why we continuously explore innovative packaging solutions and aim to reduce or replace plastic wherever possible and as quickly as possible. We are proud to save an additional 10 million pieces of plastic per year by transitioning our ‘by Sainsbury’s’ steak trays to cardboard, building on the changes we have already made with our So Organic and Taste the Difference packaging.”
While Sainsbury’s progress in reducing plastic waste is commendable, the charity A Plastic Planet criticized the retailer for not going far enough. Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet and Plastic Free, stated, “Sainsbury’s may have good intentions in its efforts to reduce plastic, but its green campaign still falls short of the mark. Switching to cardboard can be a step in the right direction, but the flexible plastic wrap used on the produce is nearly impossible to recycle and often ends up being incinerated or buried in landfills. Many of the chemicals in flexible plastics are deemed toxic for human health by expert scientists worldwide. We must strive to do better.”
Sutherland added, “The key to escaping the plastic crisis lies in transitioning to natural materials and implementing circular systems of refill. Half-hearted ideas won’t suffice. If we embark on a task, we must ensure it is done thoroughly and properly.”