Retailer Sainsbury's has announced that it will replace the plastic trays used in its own-brand steak range with a cardboard alternative. This alternative will use 70% less plastic, and will be used to package 10 products in the range.
The change will result in a 70% reduction in plastic per tray and will save 249 tonnes of plastic each year - it is another step towards Sainsbury's commitment to half its use of own brand plastic packaging by 2025.
The cardboard trays will be available in all stores and online from 5th July, and can be recycled by rinsing the cardboard before placing it in a kerbside recycling bin.
In the past, Sainsbury's has used the cardboard tray packaging to package its Taste the Difference and So Organic steaks.
"We're pleased to save another 10 million pieces of plastic a year."
Claire Hughes
This isn't the first packaging change this year. Sainsbury's has introduced a number of changes, going trayless on whole chickens in April and removing plastic bags from its entire banana range earlier this year, saving 192 tonnes of plastic.
Claire Hughes, director of product and innovation at Sainsbury’s, said: “As part of our Plan for Better commitments, we are trying to reduce plastic packaging across our own brand ranges, as we know that reducing plastic is important to our customers but also on our environmental impact. It’s why we are always looking at ways to innovate our packaging and reduce or replace plastic wherever we can, as quickly as we can.
"We’re pleased to save another 10 million pieces of plastic a year by swapping our by Sainsbury’s steak trays to cardboard following the changes we have already made on So Organic and Taste the Difference packaging. While we are making good progress, we know there is more to do and we are committed to making bold changes that help us achieve our plastic reduction targets.”
Read about the Sainsbury's trading statement here.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
