Available in-store and online from this week, the latest fully recyclable packaging is designed to aid customers in lowering plastic usage and increasing the at-home recycling rate
Sainsbury’s has announced paper packaging on all its own-brand toilet and kitchen roll packaging. (Credit: Sainsbury's)
British supermarket company Sainsbury’s has announced its plans to switch from plastic to paper packaging across its own-brand toilet paper and kitchen towel ranges.
In the UK’s first such move by any retailer, paper packaging will be added to Sainsbury’s 27 products across the toilet and kitchen roll packaging.
According to the supermarket chain, the change is the largest plastics reduction in its grocery business so far.
Available in-store and online from this week, the latest fully recyclable packaging is designed to aid customers in lowering plastic usage and increasing the at-home recycling rate.
By February 2024, all lines will start using paper packaging, which can be easily recycled at home via kerbside recycling.
Sainsbury’s said that the move is anticipated to save around 485 tonnes of plastic, which is equivalent to over 55 million pieces of plastic annually.
The change in packaging comes after the company’s launch of double-length toilet paper rolls last year.
The multipack rolls have twice as many sheets per roll as standard rolls, reduce plastic packaging by 30%, and prevent the use of 84 tonnes of plastic annually.
Sainsbury’s product and innovation director 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.
“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.”
Recently, the supermarket chain reduced the price of selected own-brand toilet paper and kitchen towels.
In April this year, Sainsbury’s removed single-use plastic trays from its whole chicken range to reduce the use of plastic in its packaging.