Sainsbury’s switches to cardboard punnets for mushrooms

Sainsbury’s is transitioning its own-brand mushroom punnets from plastic to cardboard. This shift is set to eliminate over 775 tonnes of plastic per year, equivalent to more than 52 million pieces.

Representing the supermarket’s most substantial single plastics removal to date, this reduction is comparable to the weight of 43 full London double-decker buses.

The change will encompass all 13 own-brand lines, including popular varieties like whole baby button, closed cup, organic, and chestnut mushrooms, by the month's end. This transition simplifies home recycling for customers. Sainsbury’s takes the lead as the first UK retailer to introduce cardboard punnets for all mushrooms across its stores.

Currently available in stores and online are bySainsbury’s and SO Organic mushrooms in cardboard punnets, with Taste the Difference lines following suit by the end of January.

While the film packaging can still be recycled at Sainsbury’s front-of-store flexible plastics recycling points, this initiative marks the latest in the supermarket's ongoing efforts to reduce plastic usage. Previous achievements include the removal of plastic from toilet and kitchen rolls, saving approximately 485 tonnes annually. Sainsbury’s has also eliminated plastic trays from tomatoes in 2020, saving around 75 tonnes per year, and asparagus in 2019, saving about 32 tonnes annually.

Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation, said: As part of our Plan for Better commitments, we are trying to reduce plastic packaging across our own brand ranges. We are delighted to introduce cardboard punnets for our own-brand mushrooms. Making a collective effort with suppliers to increasing recycled content and recyclability for all customers has helped achieve our biggest ever plastics removal so far. The initiative reflects our commitment towards a healthier and more sustainable future as we continue to look at ways to innovate our packaging and reduce and replace plastic where possible.