Woolworths has stated it expects to save approximately 50,000 kilograms of virgin plastic each year through its new own brand bread bags, manufactured by Amcor and made from 30% recycled plastic.
Launched in June, the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) food grade bags are in use across six bread products. Using advanced recycling technology via the mass balance approach, the bags’ recycled plastics have added to the ‘tens of thousands of tonnes’ of virgin plastic Woolworths says it has removed from its supply chain.
The new bags will feature across the retailer’s Soft White Sandwich, Soft Wholemeal Sandwich, Soft White Toast, High Fibre White Sandwich, Soft Multigrain Sandwich and High Fibre Multigrain Sandwich bread lines.
Woolworths adds that it has removed ‘tens of thousands of tonnes’ of virgin plastic from the supply chain over the last five years, including recyclable paper-based meat trays that use 75% less plastic and enable kerbside recycling; recyclable paper-based packaging for cocktail truss tomatoes, said to remove 30 tonnes of plastic from the supply chain; and in-store bakery clam shells and lids are made from 80% recycled plastic which are now recyclable.
Last year, Welton, Bibby & Baron converted Mondi’s thinnest barrier paper into premium bags for pre-packed fresh bread products, to be recycled at kerbside once emptied. The paper reportedly provides the necessary strength for higher filling weights while protecting foods against water vapour, grease, and moisture.
In June, Amcor revealed its bespoke three-compartment tray for French manufacturer Cofigeo’s range of single-serve ready meals, said to conform to Design for Recycling guidelines and offer a lightweight mono-material polypropylene (PP) construction, suitable for collection and reprocessing in France’s recycling infrastructure. The tray also had to meet Cofigeo’s requirements to be suitable to run on existing filling lines, de-stackable, retortable, provide an effective oxygen barrier and ensure ease of use for the end-consumer.
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