Sainsbury's introduces 'green' packaging

Supermarket chain Sainsbury's has announced that it is introducing compostable packaging for more than 500 of its own-brand products.

Compostable packaging, which would be used instead of plastic, involves the use of maize, sugar-cane or starch packaging, meaning that it can naturally break down in a garden compost heap, eradicating the need for packaging to be binned or bagged and sent to landfill.

The packaging has been trialled by Sainsbury's on a small range of organic fruit and vegetables and will now be extended to cover 500 other products. Sainsbury's said that almost half of its organic fruit and vegetables range will in the new packaging this week, rising to 80% by January.

The packaging will also be used in all Sainsbury's ready meals by September next year.

The supermarket said that the move will save 4,010 thousands tonnes of fossil fuel - 3,550 tonnes of plastic - from their output alone every year, as well as reducing rubbish collected for landfill.

Announcing the move, Sainsbury's Chief Executive Justin King, said: "We're now confident that putting 500 types of our food, from ready meals to organics, in compostable packaging will significantly help to reduce the packaging that most threatens the environment. It also creates an opportunity for customers to dispose of their own waste at home."

Mr King urged the government to ensure that every home in Britain was supplied with a compost bin.

Sainsbury's move follows the introduction of a scheme by Tesco to encourage customers to cut down on the amount of carrier bags they used, but offering one loyalty card point for every bag they do not use.

Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth welcomed Sainsbury's announcement on Friday, but urged them to phase out all non-recyclable packaging. Dr Michael Warhurst, the group's resource campaigner, said: "The supermarket chain must also take urgent action to reduce the impact that its operations have on the environment and farming communities.

"Today's announcement is a step in the right direction, but it has a long way to go before it can be viewed as a green grocer."

(KMcA)