M&S has become the first UK retailer to move to paper packaging on garlic baguettes, removing 5.5 million units of plastic.
All of the upmarket retailer’s single and twin garlic baguettes are now available in FSC approved paper packaging that can be easily recycled as paper at home.
At the end of last year, M&S met its target to remove 75m units of plastic in 2023/24 four months earlier than planned, and has since committed to remove one billion units by 2027 as part of its Plan A roadmap to net zero by 2040.
In a bid to reach this target, the supermarket has unveiled a raft of sustainable initiatives in recent months, including introducing a fully recyclable paper fibre coffee cup and lid and new recyclable paper packaging across its sandwiches and toasties in its UK cafés.
It has also created 100% recyclable paper packaging for its Jersey Royal potatoes.
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The grocer has also switched from plastic bags to paper bands on bunches of bananas, and switched key produce lines such as vine tomatoes, mushrooms and tropical fruit to cardboard solutions.
M&S Food head of sustainability Lucinda Langton said: “We know our customers rank packaging as a top priority and M&S is committed to reducing plastic packaging as a key part of our Plan A roadmap to Net Zero.
“It’s a good step forward to remove 5.5m units from our supply chain and we continue to work with our suppliers to find innovative new materials, processes, and equipment so we can make change at scale. These changes mean our customers can trust that the M&S quality products they love are made, sourced, and packaged with care.”
