Sainsbury's to remove plastic bags for loose fruit, veg & bakery

Sainsbury’s is removing the plastic bags in its stores used for loose fruit, vegetables and bakery items.

The retailer said the plans would remove 489 tonnes of plastic from its stores, and is part of a wider commitment to reduce 1,284 tonnes of plastic this year.

The move, which will be completed by September, will see paper bags used for loose bakery items while customers buying loose fruit and vegetables will have to bring their own bags or buy a reusable bag made from recycled materials.

Sainsbury’s said today it is also removing plastic trays for asparagus, sweetcorn, tomatoes and carrots, plastic lids from cream pots and the plastic sleeves from herb pots as well as taking out plastic cutlery.

This year’s moves would take the total amount of plastic reduced by Sainsbury’s in recent years to over 10,000 tonnes, it said. The moves are in addition to its commitments to ensure all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

As part of this pledge Sainsbury’s is set to replace black trays, PVC and polystyrene trays and plastic film on fruit and veg lines with recyclable alternatives. Plastic egg trays will be given a fibre alternative.

All black trays will be replaced by the end of the year, while black ready meal trays will disappear in the next two months.

“We are absolutely committed to reducing unnecessary plastic packaging in Sainsbury’s stores,” said Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe.

“Our customers expect us to be leading the way on major issues like this, so I am determined to remove and replace plastic packaging where we can and offer alternatives to plastic where packaging is still required to protect a product.”