Waitrose will halve its packaging by 2016 compared with 2005, and have all fish independently certified as sustainable, it announced today in a series of pledges.
To meet its goal, packaging for Menu from Waitrose ready meals and Good to Go snacks and sandwiches has been redesigned and reduced. The retailer has also added ‘flow wrap’ packaging to all meat, removing the plastic tray in packs of lamb and pork.
“We are always working hard to reduce packaging where we can, to decrease the waste reaching our customers’ bins and ensure they can recycle as much as possible,” said Waitrose packaging manager Karen Graley.
“Re-launching a range is a fantastic opportunity to do this and cutting packaging by nearly 100 tonnes per year is a great result to have achieved on our journey to halving packaging by 2016.”
Sustainable fish
All fish sold in Waitrose – including fresh, frozen and tinned – will be independently certified as sustainable by 2016, the retailer added.
In a first step towards this commitment, all fresh, smoked and breaded cod and haddock will be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) from 6 May.
“This is a major step in our pledge to become 100% fully certified by 2016. And being two of the ‘big five’ species, cod and haddock account for a significant proportion of our sales so it’s a satisfying step forward,” said Waitrose fish buyer Jeremy Langley.
“Waitrose are helping to drive demand for certified sustainable seafood and, in turn, having a direct impact on improving the sustainability of the worlds’ ocean”
Toby Middleton, MSC
Toby Middleton, MSC UK country manager said: “By adding MSC certification to all of their fresh, smoked and breaded cod and haddock, Waitrose are helping to drive demand for certified sustainable seafood and, in turn, having a direct impact on improving the sustainability of the worlds’ oceans.”
The supermarket said the certification pledge was an extension of its responsible fishing policies, which it has been pursuing since 1997. At present, its fish must pass its own ‘Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice’. This will now be supplemented by independent certification.
In March, Waitrose began adding the blue-tick MSC logo to its own-brand tinned tuna. Some breaded cod and haddock products also already have the MSC logo.
The supermarket sells around 12% of the fish bought in British supermarkets, it added.
Waitrose Way Commitments
The pledges on packaging and fish form part of 12 new ‘Waitrose Way Commitments’ announced by the retailer today. The Waitrose Way CSR policy began in 2011, but this is the first time the supermarket has formed actual pledges, a spokeswoman said.
The 12 pledges include new and continuing commitments in areas such as reducing carbon footprint, championing sustainable farming, and bringing customers “even more delicious, healthier foods”, although details remain vague.
Under Waitrose’s ‘Living well’ pledges, the supermarket will encourage customers to pursue healthy eating with the help of easy-to-use shopping lists, available for download from the company website and tailored to shoppers’ diet, health and lifestyle. These include lists for people with diabetes, lactose intolerance or coeliac disease.
No comments yet