Customers can recycle both of the new packaging types in their paper recycling bin at home. Credit: M&S.

M&S has rolled out new recyclable packaging across its rice, grains, and pulses range. The new designs are a paper-based bag and paper box.

The move is part of the retailer’s Plan A target for 100% of food packaging to be easily recyclable by 2025. Alongside this, M&S has committed to removing 1bn units of plastic from its food packaging by 2027.

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Over 30 products, including basmati rice, couscous and red lentils, are now available in the paper-based bag. Meanwhile, four products in M&S’ Collection range – Thai hom mali jasmine rice, aged basmati rice, Spanish bomba paella rice and Italian carnaroli risotto rice – are now fully plastic-free in paper boxes featuring a measuring lid.

Customers can recycle both of the new packaging types in their paper recycling bin at home, as opposed to returning to store as they had to do previously. 

The paper-based bags contain a small plastic coating to preserve the quality of the food inside. This can be recycled in customers’ paper bin.

M&S Food technical director Andrew Clappen comments: “We need to transform how we make, move and sell our products to make sure M&S Food is as sustainable as possible. Tackling packaging is a huge part of that – we need to get creative in finding alternatives that our customers can easily recycle, that reduce plastic and that protect quality.

“We’re determined to do just that and reach our Plan A recyclability and plastic reduction targets. Our customers can be confident that sustainability is top of our list – as it is theirs.”

In 2022, the retailer developed recyclable packaging for its British Collection vine tomatoes.