The move is set to save more than 775t of plastic annually. Credit: Sainsbury’s.

British supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has announced plans to transition its own-brand mushroom punnet packaging from plastic to a more sustainable cardboard alternative.  

The retailer expects that this change will save more than 775 tonnes (t) of plastic from being produced annually, which equates to more than 52 million individual pieces of plastic annually.

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Sainsbury’s said this change will be implemented across all of its 13 own-brand mushroom varieties, including closed cup, whole baby button, organic, and chestnut by the end of the month. 

The film packaging that accompanies the cardboard punnets will also be made recyclable across Sainsbury’s flexible plastics recycling points, which are available in all of the chain’s supermarkets.  

The move is part of the supermarket giant’s broader commitment to promote sustainability across its business.

Sainsbury’s claimed that it is the first UK supermarket to implement this change across all stores, with its ‘bySainsbury’s’ and ‘SO Organic’ mushrooms already available in the sustainable cardboard packaging solution.

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Sainsbury’s Product and Innovation director Claire Hughes said: “As part of our Plan for Better commitments, we are trying to reduce plastic packaging across our own-brand ranges. We are delighted to introduce cardboard punnets for our own-brand mushrooms. 

“The initiative reflects our commitment towards a healthier and more sustainable future as we continue to look at ways to innovate our packaging and reduce and replace plastic where possible.” 

This latest packaging overhaul follows a series of plastic reduction measures by the retailer, including its effort to eliminate plastic from its own-brand toilet and kitchen rolls, which is set to save approximately 485t of plastic each year according to the company.