UK retailer makes large scale switch to biodegradable packaging

19-Sep-06

Sainsbury's plans to cut 3,550 tons of plastic used for packaging its ready meals and organic food products, which use about 150 million plastic trays and bags annually. With this, it will become the first major retailer to shift to the large-scale use of biodegradable packaging, putting pressure on food processors to make the conversion. Sainsbury's will replace the plastic packaging used with those made out of maize, sugar-cane or starch. Under Sainsbury's plan about 50% of organic fruit and vegetables will be available in compostable packaging from this week, hiking to 80% by January 2007 and 100% by Sept 2007.