Quorn makes first steps to remove black plastic from packaging

Packaging Solutions

Quorn has announced its move to eliminate more than 297 tonnes of black plastic packaging from its supply chain by the end of June 2018. This step is part of the wider focus of the Quorn brand to be a leader in sustainable nutrition and is the first such significant effort to reduce, and eventually eliminate, black plastic from its supply chain by a major food brand.

With the April 2017 WRAP announcement that black plastic was not being recycled by local authorities instead being sent to landfill, the company’s packaging strategy group met to formulate a plan to remove black plastic from its supply chain as quickly as possible.

New packaging.

As a result, Quorn has announced its on-going plans to eliminate unrecyclable black plastic from its products. Since April 2018, black plastic has been phased out of the majority of Quorn packaging, including some of its bestselling products such as chilled Quorn Mince and Pieces. In June 2018, in-store packaging of the vast majority of the chilled range will move to white and opaque recyclable plastics. This change will replace 297 tonnes of black plastic with clear and opaque, recyclable alternatives, supporting the WRAP initiative against unsustainable packaging.

Quorn Mince itself is produced with what the company says is 90% less GHG emissions, 90% less land usage and 90% water usage than the beef mince equivalent.

The brand, which is exported globally to 20 different markets, is also aiming to phase out the remainder of black plastics in its Deli range (which accounts for approximately 10% of all chilled products) before the end of 2018 and is currently in late stage discussions and testing with suppliers to ensure this process takes place smoothly and swiftly.

Old packaging.

Quorn Foods CEO Kevin Brennan said, ‘As a founding signatory of WRAP’s UK Plastic Pact, we are very excited to announce this positive change towards increased sustainability of our products. Moving so quickly to remove black plastic is a significant challenge, but one that, as a sustainable company, we view as being of the utmost importance. We view this as the right thing to do, despite the six figure cost.

‘Our customers will be able to continue enjoying Quorn as part of a balanced and healthy diet, knowing that we are committed to reducing all forms of food waste in our supply chain and to promoting and advancing sustainability without passing the cost onto consumers.’