
IGD
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is proving it is a supermarket with a green heart in its latest sustainability initiative.
The British grocery giant is the first retailer in the UK to recycle its old food crates into more efficient boxes made using 100 per cent recycled materials. The existing two million old, inefficient crates are to be ground into plastic flakes, which will be washed a dried and will then be used to form new 100 per cent recycled food safe crates by Schoeller Allibert in the UK.
"This piece of work was not only about making the right decision for Sainsbury’s from an efficiency perspective - it was also about making sure we did it sustainably. A win win," remarked Simon Stokoe, Senior Strategy Manager for Sainsbury's Supply Chain.
The process produced a sustainable packaging cycle with minimal waste, allowing the new crates to be designed so they are stackable providing further benefits for suppliers and the transportation of goods.
These will be the first crates in the UK to be made from 100 per cent recycled materials that meet European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Standards.
Head of Retail Sales for Schoeller Allibert Simon Moulson said: "Schoeller Allibert's EFSA-approved recycling and remoulding process has been developed to help retailers meet increasing stringent sustainability targets as well as strict food safety and hygiene standards."