Marks & Spencer has introduced new recyclable paper packaging, across its range of sandwiches and toasties, which uses 79% less plastic.
From this month in all M&S Cafés across the UK, the entire range of M&S’ sandwiches and toasties will be available in easy to recycle FSC approved cardboard or paper packaging.
Designed not to compromise quality, the new packaging features a small window allowing customers to see the product inside but is accepted by recyclers to be recycled with paper in the paper waste stream.
With over 300 M&S Café’s across the UK, the change will remove an estimated 4.5 million units of plastic – 1.7 million across sandwiches and 2.8 million across toasties – supporting M&S’ Plan A target to remove 1 billion units of plastic packaging by 2027, on their roadmap to net zero by 2040.
Lucinda Langton, head of sustainability at M&S Food, commented: “Our sandwiches and toasties in M&S Cafés are particularly popular options as customers look to sit down and relax when shopping with us. With a brand-new menu for 2024, came an opportunity to innovate in our packaging – removing and reducing unnecessary plastic, to lower our impact on the planet.
“We know plastic is an issue our customers care deeply about and this small change to packaging in our Café’s – with no compromise on quality or taste – will make a big impact on our Plan A roadmap to net zero.”
Reducing plastic packaging is one of the key issues M&S customers care strongly about and the retailer has a leading track record of taking action. The retailer’s recently published Family Matters Index found 78% of its shoppers were recycling as much as possible and 68% were minimising food waste. The index also highlighted that 35% of shoppers would be happy to pay more for sustainably produced products.
Furthermore, at the end of last year M&S became the first national retailer to launch takeaway coffee cups which are 100% recyclable in the paper waste stream and met their target to remove 75 million units in 2023/24 – four months earlier than planned.
Discover how a number of top retailers are ditching the plastic from their packaging in the DeliveryX Packaging 2023 report. Download the report in full for:
- An exclusive interview with meal-kit company HelloFresh
- Case studies on Boohoo, H&M and L’Occitane’s new approach to packaging
- A look at what UK consumers think about oversized packaging, and the waste it generates
