Tuesday 18 July 2017

M&S saves plastic with efficient food packaging

M&S has slashed the amount of plastic used in its new range of food packaging.

In a move to cut unnecessary waste, the multinational retailer has put more than 140 of its most popular products into smaller bags made of thinner, tougher polymers.

By reducing the size of the air pocket in snacks such as crisps and popcorn whilst maintaining the same amount of food, the company has managed to reduce materials used by as much as 37%.

It is now planning to develop one recyclable, plastic product for use across all its packaging needs.

The company says these changes are expected to save around 75 tonnes of plastic each year and cut carbon emissions by an amount equivalent to 152 large trucks driving on Britain's roads for a year.

M&S says all of its food packaging will be "widely recyclable" by 2022 and has announced plans to halve food waste through its supply chain by 2025.

M&S Packaging Expert Laura Fernandez said: "We’ve been working on this project for over a year and are really pleased with the results.

"We see this as the start of a much bigger piece of work and hope to bring equally impressive savings to other areas of the business too.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is being urged to consider introducing a scheme that offers incentives to return plastic bottles.