Reduce use of plastic packaging
Reduce use of plastic packaging
Packaging helps us deliver fresh, undamaged produce, but we know that it can have a negative impact on our planet. We're working hard to ensure we are operating sustainably, therefore reducing plastic across our operations and supply chain is one of our key priorities. This is why we were the UK’s first major retailer to make a significant commitment to reduce plastic, pledging to cut plastic packaging by 50 per cent by 2025.
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Our commitment
Reduce our own brand plastic packaging by 50 per cent by 2025, increase recycled content and recyclability
Key achievements
16.4% absolute reduction
in in our own-brand primary plastic packaging from our baseline (2018 Food and 2020 GM)
plastic to paper packaging
across entire own-brand toilet paper and kitchen towels saving 55 million pieces of plastic a year
775 tonnes
of plastic removed from our own-brand mushrooms, our biggest single plastic saving to date
1st retailer
to remove single use plastic bags from loose produce
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Our progress so far
Key: CY - Calendar Year
We are publicly reporting on our progress twice a year. For further information on our performance, please visit our Reports & Policies page for our Plan for Better report.
03 October 2024
Sainsbury’s first major UK retailer to vacuum pack all lamb mince
- Following the success of its market-leading vacuum-packed beef mince, Sainsbury’s is replacing traditional plastic tray packaging across its entire lamb mince range with a vacuum-packed alternative
- The packaging will use a minimum of 65%* less plastic
Read the article
03 October 2024
Sainsbury’s first major UK retailer to vacuum pack all lamb mince
- Following the success of its market-leading vacuum-packed beef mince, Sainsbury’s is replacing traditional plastic tray packaging across its entire lamb mince range with a vacuum-packed alternative
- The packaging will use a minimum of 65%* less plastic
Read the article
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Our approach
In order to deliver on our plastic reduction commitment, our five point approach is to:
- Remove completely where we can
- Reduce weight of packaging
- Replace where feasible, minimising any unintended consequences
- Recycle by making it easier for customers after use
- Reuse/refill options for our customers
We are aware our reduction commitment is ambitious and meeting this commitment will pose significant challenges that will require transformational thinking across the industry and whilst we will endeavour to change as much as we possibly can, we simply cannot make these changes alone.
We will we be working alongside our suppliers, manufacturers, customers and other retailers to reduce the amount of plastic across the supply chain, whilst also investing in research and development on materials and technologies to enable a circular economy.
Latest examples of progress on reducing plastic packaging:
- We were the first supermarket to remove all plastic packaging from our own brand lightbulbs and batteries, saving 15 tonnes of plastic per year
- We’ve removed the plastic lids from all our own brand cream pots, saving 106 tonnes of plastic per year
- We’ve removed the plastic film from our By Sainsbury's broccoli, saving 49 tonnes of plastic per year (excludes centrals and locals)
- We’ve replaced the plastic used in our own brand two litre ice cream tubs, meaning they are now easily recyclable at home, replacing 215 tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic per year.
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Working in collaboration
As members of the WRAP UK Plastics Pact, we are working to targets across our own-brand plastic packaging including:
- Removing and replacing difficult to recycle plastics including black plastic, PVC, and Polystyrene by 2021
- Averaging 30 per cent recycled content by 2022
- 100 per cent to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2023
As members of the Consumer Good’s Forum’s Plastic Waste Coalition of Action, we are aligned on initiatives including; packaging design guidelines, Extended Producer Responsibility principles, collaboration and driving action towards an optimal waste management system and Chemical Recycling.