Sainsbury’s has become the first UK retailer to move from plastic to paper on all of its own-brand toilet and kitchen roll packaging, saving over 55 million pieces of plastic annually.
The move will save 485 tonnes of plastic – equivalent to over 55 million pieces of plastic a year – making it the biggest plastics reduction the retailer has ever made.
The new packaging will launch across 27 products in-store and online from this week. The UK retailer claims that paper packaging will have rolled out to all lines by February next year.
It can easily be recycled at home through kerbside recycling, helping customers cut down on plastic.
Sainsbury’s recently passed over £4m worth savings directly on to customers by cutting the price of selected own brand toilet paper and kitchen towels.
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Director of product and innovation Claire Hughes said: “We sell thousands of our own brand toilet tissue and kitchen roll products every week and by switching from plastic to paper on these household staples, we’re able to make a significant impact in reducing plastic.
“This change alone represents the biggest plastic reduction in our grocery products so far and our customers can expect many more changes to come.”
She added: “Collaborating with our suppliers to develop innovative packaging solutions to reduce plastic is a major key priority for Sainsbury’s, helping us to achieve our ambitious target of increasing recycled content and recyclability.”
Last month, Sainsbury’s became the first UK retailer to swap its plastic babywear hangers for cardboard ones, saving 103 tonnes of plastic a year.
