Packaging Sustainability
At Foodstuffs our commitment is to ensure our in-store and own brand packaging is more sustainable by supporting reusable solutions, reducing our use of virgin materials, removing excess packaging, and continually improving our packaging recyclability.
This commitment is extended to all packaging types e.g. plastic, fibre, glass, metal.
In addition, product stewardship and circular design - making sure resources are used again and again in other products – is also a priority for us. We are proud to work collaboratively to help bring stores, suppliers and customers with us on this journey.
Over the next 3 years Foodstuffs will be preparing for mandatory packaging product stewardship and working with our suppliers to ensure we have all the data, certifications and accreditation documents to support compliance and reporting.
To guide our work programme, we developed 10 Sustainable Packaging Principles, and we are actively encouraging our suppliers to move in this direction with us.
Foodstuffs 10 Packaging Principles
1. Specification. Remove and reduce unnecessary packaging.
2. Specification. Reduce the weight of packaging by changing the product design or package design where functionally feasible e.g. through support of concentrates. Simplify packaging materials to single types where possible. Avoid, where feasible, laminates, composites and coatings. Incorporate disassembly instructions where necessary.
3. Design for reuse. Where appropriate, design packaging so that it can be reused for the same purpose for which it was conceived e.g. product refills; and support the adoption and scaling of reusable systems that minimise single-use packaging.
4. Reduce plastics. Where functionally appropriate, transition to fibre-based renewable materials from sustainable sources that can be recycled at kerbside and/or composted at home.
5. Plastics selection. Where plastic is necessary, prioritise widely recyclable polymer types. For rigid plastics, prioritise clear plastics Type 1, 2 and 5 as these are recyclable through kerbside collections in NZ. For soft plastics, align material selection with requirements set by the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme and the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) managed by Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation. Where viable alternative exist do not use plastics Type 3 & 6.
6. Recycled content. Specify the maximum amount of post-consumer recycled content feasible. i.e. specify % of rPET, rHDPE, etc.
7. Bioplastics. Do not use oxo-degradable plastics. Avoid all ‘bio-degradable’ plastics. Avoid all rigid ‘commercially compostable’ bioplastics. Only use HOME compostable bioplastics when there is minimal risk of them entering the recycling system and ensure compostability claims are current and substantiated by an accredited certifier. ‘Drop-ins’ (renewable bioplastic alternatives to petroleum-based feedstock) should be recyclable in New Zealand.
8. Avoid hazards. Avoid or minimise the use of materials that are potentially hazardous to the environment or to human health including: Heavy metals in packaging, inks and pigments; Elemental chlorine for bleaching paper; Phthalates; Bisphenol A (BPA) and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging.
9. Educate consumers. Include messaging in packaging design to advise consumers the correct method of post use disposal in accordance with New Zealand waste industry standards, i.e. Australasian Recycling Label.
10. Sustainable suppliers. Communicate the desire that all suppliers adopt the Foodstuffs 10 Packaging Principles to improve the environmental performance of their packaging. On request, Suppliers must be able to provide substantiation of any claims made.
(Launched July 2018, updated May 2021)
Supplier guidance and expectations
We encourage our suppliers to review their packaging and implement improvements over time. This applies to our fresh suppliers, grocery suppliers and packaging suppliers.
Foodstuffs acknowledges that packaging serves an important role in FMCG to protect goods, extend shelf-life and communicate information to customers. This said, it is important that packaging is designed with end-of-life outcomes and the New Zealand system in mind. Packaging volume reductions should be top priority, meaning unnecessary packaging is eliminated.
Packaging sustainability considerations are included within the Merchandise team NPD and category review process and in our packaging procurement process. Please ensure due diligence is carried out prior to presenting product claims (including end-of-life and material composition) must be able to be substantiated. In general, we have an ‘avoid’ position on bioplastics with few exceptions.
Supply chain and logistics packaging
There are many opportunities for tertiary packaging improvements in the supply chain:
- Reusable crates – reduce cardboard volumes in produce, ambient and protein categories
- Retail ready half pallets – reduce secondary and tertiary packaging, labour and heavy lifting though pre-stacked pallets wheeled into position on the retail floor
- Reusable pallet nets – reusable alternative to pallet wrap
- Lightweight pallet wrap – substantially reduce volumes
- Insulation alternatives – move away from expanded polystyrene to fibre
Further information:
Learn more about sustainable packaging with the following links:
Navigating compostable and biodegradable packaging:
- WasteMINZ bioplastics guidance - The Organic Materials Sector Group have produced a series of guidelines for advertising compostable and biodegradable packaging:
Additional Recommended Packaging Resources:
- The Packaging Forum – voluntary product stewardship schemes
- Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO)
- Plastics NZ
- Single-use and hard-to-recycle plastic bans | Ministry for the Environment
- Plastic Packaging Product Stewardship
Key contact: Debra Goulding - National Sustainable Packaging Manager
Email: debra.goulding@foodstuffs.co.nz
Mobile: +64 27 417 8226