Sainsbury’s has moved to change the packaging of its soft-fruit range from trays with rigid clip-on tops to heat-sealed film lids.
This new packaging format will allow Sainsbury's to reduce the weight of its packaging by up to 87 per cent and is available for strawberries, cherries and plums, according to packaging supplier Amcor Flexibles.
Amcor hopes consumers will benefit from the film's clarity, resulting in high product visibility, while retailers will appreciate the improved stacking qualities of the packs without taking any risk to damage the sensitive fruits.
Stuart Lendrum, packaging manager at Sainsbury’s, said: “One of our customers' main environmental concerns is excess packaging. We aim to ensure that packaging amounts and types are appropriate.
“By replacing the plastic lids on our strawberries with sealed film, we are able to save 333 tonnes of plastic per annum and additionally provide our customers with an easy peel opening solution.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Amcor said: “A further advantage of the move towards flexible film is the printability of the lid, thus making the use of labels redundant. This, together with the reduction in cares as lids cannot become separated from the tray anymore, leads to significant cost-saving opportunities.”
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