PLASTIC REDUCTION
When it comes to packaging we recognise that, as an industry, we haven’t found all the solutions yet. But we’re committed to continually researching and innovating to find sustainable alternative packaging options for our customers and consumers.
By reducing the amount of packaging we use, we can reduce the emissions associated with its production and prevent valuable materials from going to waste. We have a bold ambition to halve the environmental impact of our packaging by 2030, which we aim to achieve through our 3R principle:
1. Remove plastic
2. Increase Recyclability
3. Use more Recycled materials
We’ve already calculated the carbon footprint of our packaging, so we have firm targets to work toward and, we’ve launched a number of pioneering projects to reduce the amount of plastic we use. Since we produce all of our fresh milk packaging on site we’re able to innovate quickly in this area.
Our ambition is to move to an entirely circular process, ensuring all the plastic in our packaging can be recycled back into food-grade material for use again and again. We know that collaboration is key in reaching this goal as soon as possible, which is why we’re members of the UK Plastic Pact and IGD’s Sustainable Packaging Workgroup. By working together, we can drive big changes across our whole industry.
MOVING TO A CIRCULAR APPROACH
The food industry is facing a major packaging challenge. Shoppers rightly expect our products to be of the safest and highest quality while also being practical, so we use a specific type of plastic in our packaging which is recyclable as well as convenient. Recycled plastic is part of the solution, but there’s a big shortage of food-grade recycled plastic available on the market. This is why we’re investigating ways to maintain a circular system for our packaging, where materials are used, recycled and then used again.
Our plastic milk bottle packaging already uses at least 30% recycled material, but we want to increase this. We’re also committed to increasing the recyclability of our products – our milk bottles and large yogurt pots are 100% recyclable, but we want to extend this to all the packaging in our range. When it comes to milk bottles, by creating a higher volume of packaging from recycled material which can itself be recycled, we can address the food-grade plastic shortage and prevent the resource-intensive production of new virgin plastic, therefore creating a circular system.
OUR PROGRESS
Our milk bottles and large yogurt pots are 100% domestically recyclable
Our cream pots have more than 82% recycled material in the packaging and are 100% recyclable
We moved to clear caps on all milk bottles in summer 2023 – creating 1560 tonnes of recyclable food-grade plastic to be reused in food packaging going forward
Our milk bottles are made of at least 30% recycled content, and we’re working on increasing this
