Packaging

By 2020, we'll make sure that our own packaging has been reduced by a half compared to 2005.

It is vital to continue to minimise packaging to help reduce carbon emissions whilst maintaining the benefits of freshness and safety.

Packaging does not only have to be environmentally friendly but needs to be multi-functional by meeting design and storage requirements. The challenge is to reduce packaging for our own brand products without sacrificing its effectiveness at promoting food safety and preventing food waste. At the same time, we want to help our customers to recycle through on pack information and via our extensive recycling facilities.

Our progress so far

• 6.4% packaging removed from own brand products in 2011/12
• Helping customers reduce food waste via amended ‘display until’ and ‘freeze by’ labelling
• >2m Nectar points awarded to reward reuse of shopping bags

What stakeholders tell us:

“WRAP has worked hard to help grocery retailers tackle the issue of food waste, particularly through the Courtauld Commitment. Sainsbury’s, as a signatory to this agreement, has already done much to address a range of resource efficiency and recycling targets, and we’re delighted to learn of their latest ambitious plans. We wish Sainsbury’s every success with their initiative, and we’re looking forward to working with them in the future”

Liz Goodwin, Chief Executive. WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme)