Sainsbury’s replaces plastic with bamboo and paper on avocado twin-pack
In a trial launched in 77 of its supermarkets, Sainsbury’s has removed plastic from its own-brand twin pack avocado packaging in favour of a new paper sack. The retailer say the move will spare more than 20.2 million pieces of plastic annually once it is fully rolled out. The new packaging will feature bamboo netting […]
Is plastic packaging good or bad? Canadian study importantly notes benefits of food safety, protection
A study commissioned by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) highlights the critical role of packaging in fresh produce supply chains by quantifying the functionality of plastic packaging in fresh produce from a needs/benefit perspective. Although the study does not consider the impacts of packaging regulatory scenarios on fresh produce cost […]
Why the next steps on EU’s approved packaging regulations are so critical to a sustainable future
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) was first presented in November 2022 by the European Commission with the goal of making packaging and its waste more sustainable in the European Union. This regulation sets requirements for packaging throughout its lifecycle, including its design, use and waste management. In October 2023, the committee on the […]
Aldi trades in plastic for paper band in trial to make banana packaging more sustainable
With just one small change to one product in its produce section, Aldi UK could eliminate 234 tonnes of plastic. So the discount retailer, like so many other supermarket chains across the UK focused squarely on sustainability, will trial the removal of plastic packaging on certain lines of bananas in select stores. They include […]
Relying on data analytics to drive your fresh produce business? You might want to ask your gut first.
“Data driven” isn’t just jargon; it’s a widely used decision-making process. But how good are the insights and decisions if the process starts with flawed data? Is bad data driving us in the wrong direction? My inbox is populated with at least two dozen RSS feeds every morning, from produce, grocery, retail, specific business areas, […]
How can fresh produce wholesalers adapt to the blurring of traditional lanes?
There was a time when each part of the supply chain stayed within a well-defined and mutually respected lane. Every link — grower, shipper, packinghouse, buying agent, broker, wholesaler, distributor, fresh-cut processor, purveyor, retail store, big box store, freight broker, common carrier — knew its exact function on the long road to get perishable agricultural […]
The emergence of climate-neutral produce in Europe
Europe’s fresh produce market is undergoing a remarkable transformation with the emergence of climate-neutral certified products. This shift is driven by increasing consumer awareness of climate change and the demand for eco-friendly choices. There are a number of companies that are leading the way in Europe, such as the Port International (bananas); Jaguar, The Fresh […]
Sainsbury’s ditches plastic for cardboard punnets on own-brand mushrooms
The not-so-distant target to reach sustainability goals has pushed retailers to eliminate plastic bags and individual wraps on fruits and vegetables. And think of new ideas. One of the biggest offenders aside from packaging film – which in some cases helps in terms of food safety and convenience – are punnets. Easy to store but […]
