UK-based retailer Waitrose has revamped the packaging of all the 49 products in its Menu prepared meals range, as part of its efforts to cut its packaging in half by 2016.
The width of the sleeves on the outside of the products has been decreased, which reduces 33 tons of packaging per annum - equivalent to a 20% of overall weight saving, according to the retailer.
This is the first time that a retailer has introduced aluminum trays for ready meals which means that customers can cook and serve the meals in the same tray and can recycle it after use.
In addition, Waitrose also re-launched its the Good to Go range of 190 snacks and sandwiches with packaging reductions totaling 25 tons per annum - changes include increasing the size of the window on sandwiches to allow better visibility of the product; pre-printed bags for fruit portions were also developed, which saves 60% of the weight by taking off the label.
After being introduced for mince and diced meat in 2010, the 'flow wrap' packaging has now been rolled out for all meat including lamb and pork.
Waitrose packaging and reprographics manager Karen Graley said that the retailer is working to reduce packaging where it can, to decrease the waste reaching its customers' bins and ensure they can recycle as much as possible.
"Re - launching a range is a fantastic opportunity to do this and cutting packaging by nearly 100 tons per year is a great result to have achieved on our journey to halving packaging by 2016," Graley added.
