British supermarket chain Asda has launched sustainable packaging for its Just Essentials beef mince range, replacing traditional plastic trays with a lighter and recyclable flexible plastic film.  

The new packaging contains 60% less plastic compared with the previous version and is set to reduce the supermarket's plastic usage by 67.6 tonnes per year.  

The innovative vacuum-pack method extends the product's shelf life by removing oxygen and reduces fridge space usage without compromising the quantity of enclosed beef mince. 

Customers can conveniently recycle the used packaging at collection points available in 250 of Asda's largest stores.  

The new packaging is fully recyclable under On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) guidance and is part of Asda's commitment to achieving 100% recyclable packaging by 2025.  

The retailer’s latest environmental, social, and governance report showed that 93% of its own-brand packaging is recyclable as of 2022.

In that year, Asda eliminated best-before dates on nearly 250 fresh produce items and switched its own-brand yoghurts to a best-before-date system.  

These changes aim to help Asda's customers minimise their food waste and save money. 

Asda sustainable packaging manager Jon Wells said: “We’re always looking at new ways that we can make positive changes which will benefit both our customers and the planet, and we believe that this is one of those changes.” 

“Not only does this improve shelf life and provide greater convenience for our customers, it also removes tonnes of non-recyclable plastic from our supply chain, reducing our carbon footprint.”