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M&S ‘first’ UK retailer to adopt paper garlic baguette packs, removes 5.5m units of plastic
All of the retailer’s single and twin garlic baguettes are now available in FSC approved paper packaging which can be easily recycled as paper at-home.
The change is expected to remove 5.5m units of plastic from the M&S Food business every year, and forms part of its wider commitment to remove 1bn units of plastic packaging from its operations by 2027. The firm aims to reach net zero emissions by 2040.
M&S claims it is the first UK retailer to make the move to paper packaging on garlic baguettes. The single garlic baguette is the business’ best seller within the garlic bread category, with 4.3m units sold each year.
‘Plastic reduction key issue among customers’
According to M&S, reducing plastic packaging is one of the key issues that its customers care strongly about. This has caused the retailer to take several steps to cut down on its use of plastic, including a move earlier this year to introduce a fully recyclable paper fibre coffee cup and lid.
Other actions include switching from a plastic bag to a paper band on bunches of bananas and switching produce lines such as ‘British Collection’ vine tomatoes, mushrooms and tropical fruit to cardboard solutions.
These efforts were reflected in the news from the end of 2023 that M&S had met its target to remove 75m units of plastic from its operations four months ahead of schedule.
Commenting on the move, M&S Food head of sustainability Lucinda Langton said: “We know our customers rank packaging as a top priority and M&S is committed to reducing plastic packaging as a key part of our Plan A roadmap to Net Zero.
“It’s a good step forward to remove 5.5m units from our supply chain and we continue to work with our suppliers to find innovative new materials, processes, and equipment so we can make change at scale. These changes mean our customers can trust that the M&S quality products they love are made, sourced, and packaged with care.”
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