Sainsbury’s switches to card and paper packaging for bakery goods

Sainsbury’s has introduced new packaging across its bakery range as part of efforts to cut down on plastic waste.

The retailer has replaced plastic clam-shell packaging for its doughnuts and pastries with cardboard and paper alternatives, resulting in a 90% reduction in plastic. This move is expected to cut around 414 tonnes of plastic each year. Doughnuts are now packaged in cardboard boxes with a small window, while twin-pack pastries, croissants, and cinnamon swirls are being sold in paper bags.

Additionally, plastic packaging for in-store bakery bread has been significantly reduced by up to 60%, saving about 152 tonnes of plastic annually. Loaves, baguettes, and batons will now be packaged in recyclable paper bags with a plastic window. These changes will be rolled out in stores over the coming months.

The plastic windows on the new packaging can be removed and recycled at Sainsbury’s in-store recycling points, while the paper and card can be recycled at home through kerbside collections.

This initiative follows several other efforts by Sainsbury’s to reduce plastic use. For example, the supermarket recently replaced plastic on its mushroom punnets, cutting plastic waste by 775 tonnes per year, and switched its kitchen and toilet roll packaging from plastic to paper, saving over 485 tonnes of plastic annually.

In line with these changes, Sainsbury’s has also launched its ‘Good to Know’ logo to help customers identify products with more sustainable packaging. The logo is designed to highlight the retailer’s commitment to sustainability, animal welfare, and community support.