Asda has made a significant move to improve its food and drink packaging by replacing traditional plastic tray packaging with a lighter and recyclable alternative for its Just Essentials beef mince range. The new packaging, now available in stores and online, contains 60% less plastic and is fully recyclable through Asda’s in-store collection points. This transition will eliminate 67.6 tonnes of plastic from Asda’s supply chain annually. The vacuum-pack method used in the new packaging removes oxygen, extending the product’s shelf life and making it more space-efficient in the fridge. Asda has ensured that this packaging is recyclable under OPRL’s guidance, enabling customers to recycle it through the front of store collection points at 250 of Asda’s largest stores.
This move is part of Asda’s commitment to reaching 100% recyclable packaging by 2025, as the supermarket continues to make sustainable changes. The company also removed best before dates on almost 250 fresh fruit and vegetable products and changed its own brand yoghurts to a best before date, encouraging customers to reduce food waste at home.
Jon Wells, Sustainable Packaging Manager at Asda, stated: “We’re always looking at new ways that we can make positive changes which will benefit both our customers and the planet, and we believe that this is one of those changes.”
“Not only does this improve shelf life and provide greater convenience for our customers, it also removes tonnes of non-recyclable plastic from our supply chain, reducing our carbon footprint.”
Asda’s latest ESG report revealed that in 2022, the proportion of own-label packaging that can be recycled has increased to 93%, reflecting the supermarket’s ongoing efforts to improve its environmental impact.
