UK Supermarkets Serious On Reducing Packaging

In their 2009 corporate responsibility report, UK supermarket chain Tesco has set a target to reduce food packaging weight by 25% by 2010. This goal is to be achieved by working with over 250 suppliers on over 3,600 packaging reduction initiatives for both own-label and branded products. Of Tesco's 3,057 own-label packaging reduction initiatives, 2,000 have already been completed.

By reducing spoilage and waste, effective protection of food products helps to reduce their overall environmental impact. In some countries, the lack of packaging or inadequate packaging in the supply chain causes up to 50% of all food to decay before it reaches the consumer. In the UK, where food is more efficiently packed, only 3% of the food produced fails to reach the consumer, mainly due to better packaging.

This initiative by Tesco, who also own the US supermarket chain Fresh and Easy, comes on the back of announcements by other UK supermarkets. Sainsbury’s plans a reduction in cereal packaging, which I mentioned last month, and Marks and Spencer, has set a target to reduce the weight of non-glass packaging by 25 per cent by 2012.

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