Big 4 grocer Sainsbury’s has reduced plastic usage in its pancake mix packaging by 86 per cent.

The new packaging can be recycled in kiosks near the supermarket, which is expected to save up to 25 tonnes of plastic a year.

The move is part of the retailer’s commitment to halve plastic packaging by 2025.

Sainsbury’s has also switched from plastic tray packaging to cardboard for its meats, resulting in the nine million trays being removed from its shelves.

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The news comes as the retailer announced it had saved 7.5 tonnes of plastic this Valentine’s Day by using thinner plastic wrapping and recyclable wrappers for confectionaries.

“Sainsbury’s are committed to continuing to minimise the use of plastic across our ranges including seasonal products, supporting our customers in their efforts to reduce plastic and recycle more,” Sainsbury’s product innovation director Claire Hughes said.

Sainsbury’s saved approximately 4500 tonnes of plastic in 2019, a 4 per cent year-on-year reduction from the 120,000 tonnes it used in 2018.