It’s happened to all of us—you open up a bag of chips and can’t believe how much empty space is in there. Not only does it feel like false advertising, but it means that there’s quite a bit of packaging put to use that’s not really needed. In hopes of changing this and making their brand and products more sustainable all around, British retailer Marks & Spencer has redesigned 140 snacks packaging to include less air and thinner plastic. This puts them well on track with their recently announced Plan A, an eco and ethical plan to convert M&S into a zero-waste business.
“Project Thin Air” will reduce 75 tons of packaging each year, and M&S says the redesign will not change the amount of food inside each pack. The store’s popcorn has had the most significant reductions, going down by 37%. And for their hand-cooked chips line, they’re using 20% less plastic by switching to a thinner, stronger type of film. M&S also recently started laser etching their avocados rather than using a sticker—making it more reliable and eco-friendly.
“We’ve been working on this project for over a year and are really pleased with the results,” Marks and Spencers packaging expert Laura Fernandez told the Independent. “We very much see this as the start of a much bigger piece of work and hope to bring equally impressive savings to other areas of the business too.”
Steve Rowe, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer’s said: “Marks & Spencer has been at the forefront of social change for 133 years and we’re determined to play a leading role in the years ahead. Plan A 2025 will help us build a sustainable future by helping our customers live healthier lives, supporting the communities they live in and we source from and looking after the planet we all share. We believe we can engage all of our 32 million customers, 85,000 colleagues and 200,000 shareholders in the plan that becomes a mass voice for sustainable change.”
Jonathon Porritt, Chair of the Plan A Advisory Board, said: “It’s so important that M&S, one of the world’s most trusted and well-loved companies, keeps raising the bar on what it means to be a sustainable retailer. On all the big challenges – supply chain, climate, food waste, living wage, human rights, packaging, community investment and so on – the pressure is intensifying and expectations rising. It’s great to see M&S leading the way here.”
Via: Independent
Image Source: Marks & Spencer
