Packaging is again under fire, as UK newspaper the Daily Mail reports on retailer Sainsbury’s being prosecuted ‘for using excessive wrapping’ on its Taste the Difference Slow Matured Ultimate Beef.
The store is the first supermarket to face official action, which is being brought by Lincolnshire Trading Standards over ‘wasteful packaging’, following a complaint by a shopper. Sainsbury’s, which has been very vocal about the strides it has made to reduce packaging, is said to be ‘surprised’ by the legal action, but has never the less introduced a slimmed-down version of the packaging, and is hopeful that the case will be dropped in light of this.
The Daily Mail article then launches a scathing attack on packaging in general, stating: ‘The meat is a typical example of supermarkets’ excess packaging and the resulting waste that campaigners say is turning the country into the ‘dustbin of Europe’.’ It also points out that more packaging goes to landfill in Britain than in any other European country. Whose fault is that? I would say that is more to do with ineffective and fragmented recycling schemes and the apathy of consumers than the retailers and brand owners.
The CPI responded strongly to the article, which was entitled ‘It’s war on store waste’. David Workman, CPI Director General, says: “The article is yet another unjustified attack on the packaging industry, which directly employs some 80,000 people in the UK and is responsible for producing the products which result in one of the lowest supply chain food wastages anywhere in the world.
However, although the court action appears to me to be excessively harsh, it should be a warning to the industry in general that they should be vigilant in their packaging design to ensure that there is no case against them, should they be accused of excess packaging.
This should start at the innovation and design stage, and an excellent conference, coming up on 14 – 15 December will, address just that. The LCA Sustainable Product Design Europe 2010 conference will be held at the Ibis London Earls Court, and will provide a forum to enable delegates to learn about ‘life cycle thinking and cost effectively using it in the innovation and design stages’. An impressive line-up of speakers from companies such as Nokia, Alliance Boots, Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser Group will address delegates prior to a round table discussion.
Packaging Today readers have been offered a 15% discount for this event.
Maureen Byrne,
Editor
Maureen Byrne
