Sainsbury’s has announced it is moving to vacuum-packed packaging across its entire fresh lamb mince range.
The move is expected to cut plastic by 65% per product, saving 26 tonnes of plastic annually.
It comes after the success of swapping to vacuum-packaging across its beef mince in February 2023.
The new packaging removes all oxygen from the packaging, which typically causes a product to spoil more quickly, extending its shelf life and allowing it to last better in the freezer.
It would contain the same amount of lamb mince at the same quality, the retailer said.
Packaging will also include new QR codes to provide advice on how to cook the mince.
“We know customers want us to reduce plastic packaging and that’s why we’re committed to making bold changes which benefit the environment as well as helping customers to reduce plastic waste at home,” said Richard Crampton, director of fresh food at Sainsbury’s.
“Once again, we’re the first major supermarket to switch to vacuum-packed packaging on a popular product that our customers buy week in, week out,” he added. “This change more than halves the plastic used in our lamb mince range.”
It will be recyclable in-store at supermarkets including Sainsbury’s flexible plastic recycling collection points.
The packaging change is the latest from Sainsbury’s in a bid by the retailer to halve its use of own-brand plastic packaging by 2024.
Other changes include the switch from plastic packaging to cardboard on all own-brand mushrooms, saving over 775 tonnes of plastic a year, the most significant move so far.
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