Moy Park, Northern Ireland’s largest private sector business, has achieved a 10% reduction in packaging across its operations.

The company supplies branded and own label chicken products to retailers and foodservice providers throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe and is a manufacturer of organic, free-range and higher welfare chicken.

Moy Park’s Remove, Reduce, Recycle and Research strategy is aimed at reducing its overall packaging by 5% year-on-year, while also increasing the percentage of recyclable packaging by 5%.

The company has reportedly collaborated with supply chain partners and implemented business-wide initiatives focusing on removing unnecessary plastic components, reducing remaining plastic, developing recyclable options and adopting plastics with recycled content.

This aligns with the recent decrease of approximately 70,000 tonnes (t) in the quantity of household plastic packaging introduced to the UK market.

Moy Park head of packaging Matt Harris commented: “Sustainable packaging plays an important role on our pathway to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

“We’re working closely across departments, and with external expertise, to extend our current packaging strategy. This will reflect best practice guidance on packaging design, future legislation, and consumer and shopper insights.”

The company’s 2022 Sustainability Report highlights its targets of minimising food waste by 50% by 2030 and sending zero waste to landfill.

It previously collaborated with sustainable packaging company Coveris on a recyclable stand-up pouch for a Tesco cooked chicken product.