Careers

Circular packaging

Packaging plays an important role in keeping our products fresh and ensuring it reaches our customers in the best quality and freshness. We know how important it is to our customers and our planet to reduce packaging and plastic waste and make it more sustainable. It’s a challenge facing our sector and beyond and one we take very seriously at Sainsbury’s. We’ve already made big strides through investment and innovation but we also know there’s more to do.

Our packaging strategy takes a holistic approach to this challenge and we are working in close partnership with industry and partners to deliver the system-wide change that’s necessary to make progress on this critical challenge.

Our ambition  

As our headline plastic reduction target ends in December 2025, we are evolving our packaging strategy – one that encompasses all packaging materials with the bigger picture of recyclability, sustainability and new EPR legislation.

Here’s what we’re striving for:

  • 100% recyclable or reusable packaging across all types of packaging (primary, secondary and tertiary)
  • 100% recycled or certified paper and pulp packaging by December 2025
  • Continuing to cut down on our own-brand food packaging across all materials in line with new industry standards (EPR legislation)
  • At least 30% of recycled content in all primary based packaging for our own-brand packaging

Our progress and highlights

21%

Reduction in own brand plastic packaging, from our baselines in 2018 CY for food and 2020 CY for general merchandise

926 tonnes

of plastic packaging reduction in Argos since 2020 CY baseline

Our areas of focus

We know we can’t achieve our packaging ambitions alone. Creating real change means working in partnership across industries, with suppliers and with our customers.

As we move ahead, we will continue to:

  • Phase out hard-to-recycle materials wherever possible
  • Increase the recycled content in our packaging while maintaining quality and safety
  • Invest in new ideas and innovations to find better solutions

We will also explore how we can help customers make sustainable packaging choices, including refill-at-home and reuse options. This is a journey and while there are challenges, we’re excited about what’s ahead.

By rethinking how we design, use and recycle packaging, we can make a real difference and play a leading role in collaboration across industry to drive change.

Case study

New packaging across bakery

In September 2024, we announced new packaging across our bakery range, switching all donuts and pastries to cardboard and paper packaging. Reducing plastic by 90%, this is expected to save us over 560 tonnes of plastic per year.

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Case study

 Vacuum pack lamb mince

We were the first major retailer to vacuum pack lamb mince, replacing traditional plastic tray packaging. The packaging uses a minimum of 65 per cent less plastic and saves 26 tonnes of plastic every year, as well as providing better freezer life thanks to the removal of all oxygen.

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Case study

Pulp and paper cardboard packaging

We were the first retailer to introduce pulp trays for fresh salmon and trout, along with cardboard packaging for our fresh breaded chicken and fish products, saving 649 tonnes of plastic a year.

Read more

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