No plastic packaging – sell fresh uncut produce loose, says WRAP report

New research sees global NGO WRAP challenge the status quo of the way retailers sell fresh uncut fruit and vegetables, highlighting that it should change significantly in the future. Changes ahead An 18-month project conducted by WRAP, with input from industry, to examine the link between food waste in the home and the use of plastic packaging, has challenged accepted thinking that packaging helps to preserve fresh produce. In fact, it shows that selling loose has huge potential to reduce food waste in our homes. The research also examined the…

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Plastic packaging takes a battering as Sainsbury’s sustainable innovations extend to Pancake Day

Sainsbury’s cut down on plastic packaging ahead of Pancake Day this year, reducing plastic packaging by 86% in its pancake mix. The move is part of the retailer’s commitment to halve plastic packaging by 2025 and is the latest seasonal celebration to have a sustainable makeover. The new widely-recycled pancake cartons are estimated to save a total of 25 tonnes of plastic every year, and is just one more step the supermarket retailer has taken to reduce its overall plastic waste. Valentine’s Day will also get a makeover, with a…

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Iceland Launches UK-First Trial To Reduce Plastic Packaging On Fresh Produce By 93%

Iceland has launched an industry-leading trial that will see the retailer reduce its plastic packaging by 93% across a range of fresh produce. The trial launched on 22 January in 33 of Iceland’s stores across London and the South East region, and will offer customers the opportunity to buy 38 fresh fruit and vegetable lines in innovative new packaging solutions that are either plastic-free or have a significantly reduced plastic content. Iceland is expecting the trial alone to remove seven tonnes of plastic, reflecting the growing consumer  appetite  to reduce…

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Blooming lovely: Sainsbury’s becomes first retailer to reduce plastic packaging in fresh flowers in 167 stores

Sainsbury’s is launching a new trial which makes it the first UK retailer to reduce plastic packaging in fresh floral ranges on a large scale. The 12 week trial, which will run in 167 Sainsbury’s stores, marks another step towards achieving the company’s commitment to reduce plastics by 50% by 2025, across all Sainsbury’s food operations. Plastic sleeves will be removed from more than one million fresh floral bunches and bouquets and replaced with recyclable paper packaging during the trial, saving over 10 tonnes of plastic. The sticky tape used…

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Asda meets 2018 promise to remove 6500 tonnes of own brand plastic packaging

Asda has announced it has removed 6500 tonnes of plastic from its own brand packaging since February 2018. The milestone marks a significant step towards the supermarket’s ongoing commitment to reducing the amount of plastic used in product packaging. Through product innovation and redesign, Asda has reduced plastic in almost 1000 individual product lines – from fresh fruit and veg to electronics and homewares – removing the equivalent weight of 600 million empty plastic bottles. Some of the changes that have been implemented over the last 12 months include: Swapping…

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