Sainsbury's makes change to meat aisle in 'UK supermarket first'

Another supermarket-first for Sainsbury’s, the new packaging will result in a minimum 65 per cent reduction in plastic per product.

Sainsbury’s has announced it is swapping traditional, plastic tray packaging for a new vacuum-packed alternative across its entire fresh lamb mince range, saving 26 tonnes of plastic annually. Another supermarket-first for Sainsbury’s, the new packaging will result in a minimum 65 per cent reduction in plastic per product.

The change will be across all Sainsbury’s fresh lamb mince products, which start at just £3.95 for 250g. Customers will be able to purchase lamb mince in the revamped packaging both in-store and online from today.

The lamb mince products will be vacuum-packed for freshness, removing all oxygen which typically causes a product to spoil more quickly, increasing the life of the current product and also allowing the product to last better in the freezer.

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The new packaging will contain the same amount of lamb mince at the same quality customers can expect from Sainsbury’s. There will be new QR codes on the packaging to provide advice on how to cook the mince.

Richard Crampton, Director of Fresh Food at Sainsbury’s said: “We know customers want us to reduce plastic packaging and that’s why we’re committed to making bold changes which benefit the environment as well as helping customers to reduce plastic waste at home.

"Once again, we’re the first major supermarket to switch to vacuum packed packaging on a popular product that our customers buy week in, week out. This change more than halves the plastic used in our lamb mince range.”

The new packaging will be recyclable in-store at supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s flexible plastic recycling collection points available in all of its supermarkets. The move is the latest in a string of changes made by the retailer in a bid to halve its use of own-brand plastic packaging by 2025. Sainsbury’s was the first UK supermarket to vacuum pack all its beef mince.