Packaging

Our product primary packaging represents approximately 90,000 tonnes of consumer waste, and is an issue that particularly concerns our customers. Waitrose packaging designers are continually looking at ways to improve packaging performance and, where possible, reduce packaging weight. Waitrose is a signatory of the Courtauld Commitment, which was launched in July 2005 by the Government-funded Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

By signing up to the Courtauld Commitment with 12 other leading retailers Waitrose has made a public commitment to help explore the viability of new materials and to support WRAP in meeting its objectives. In 2008, Waitrose and other signatories helped achieve this first target to eliminate packaging growth by the end of 2008, despite a sharp increase in sales.

Over the last few years we have implemented a range of initiatives to lightweight packaging, trial innovative packaging solutions and introduce more recycled and recyclable materials. One such initiative is the reduction of the thickness for all prepared salad and leaf plastic bags, which has been achieved without lowering quality or shortening the life of the product.

This enabled a 14.3% reduction in the weight of packaging used, as well as reducing the misting inside the bags and improved the quality of the seal. Smoked salmon packaging has also been reduced by 50%, the removal of paper labels on own-brand egg boxes is predicted to save 35 tonnes of packaging a year and we have introduced wine bottles made from 60% recycled glass that deliver a 30% reduction in weight. The launch of ‘essential Waitrose’ in 2009 saw the introduction of a number of lines with reduced packaging.