UK supermarket Asda has scooped two high-profile environmental awards in one week.

The Wal-Mart-owned retailer was recognised as the “Most Environmentally Friendly Retailer” at the People in Retail Awards and the “Multiple Environmental Retailer of the Year” at the Retail Industry Awards.

The double honour marks the retailer’s commitment to waste reduction, the elimination of waste and saving energy.

The company signed up to the Courtauld Commitment in 2005 and is now working in partnership with the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to cut packaging by 25 per cent by 2008.

To meet this pledge, the chain has developed a new packaging policy around the waste hierarchy.

John Longworth, Asda executive director for external and legal affairs, said: “An example of ASDA’s collaboration with its suppliers is the work done with [packaging company] Gilchrist around the new packaging of its organic line, briefed to develop environmentally responsible packaging guidelines, which allowed removing up to 68 per cent of pizza packaging and rising to 93 per cent less packaging for grapefruit.

“Recyclable wood-pulp trays were introduced in the produce category to create an earthy feel, and where plastic trays were necessary the suppliers were instructed to use food-grade materials.”

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