Sharp Interpack supplies recycled Packaging into Sainsbury's

Sharp Interpack has secured supply of all Taste The Difference (TTD) packaging for fruit throughout Sainsbury's stores, including the use of post consumer recycled material - R-Apet

The win will see the TTD fruit range in new bespoke packs designed with an upmarket image and product visibility in mind whilst minimising packaging. In addition all packs have been designed to maximise ventilation between the base and the lid, rather than using punched holes and through an on-going relationship with Leading Edge, many of the packs will have pre-printed lids, thus further reducing the amount of packaging being used per product. It is anticipated that by Christmas all packs on shelf will be in the material R-Apet.

The R-APet uses up to 80% post consumer recycled (PCR) content with the goal of eventually using 100% PCR.

In total twelve individual pack components have been developed and Sharp Interpack are proud to have turned the complicated project around from the initial brief to full tooling in just four months.

“The initiative with Sharp Interpack is a positive step towards achieving our strategy for soft fruit” commented Julian Roberts, Soft Fruit Buyer for Sainsbury’s. “The investment that has already been made by Sharp Interpack demonstrates their genuine commitment to the environment and bid to further reduce packaging waste. We see them as a long term partner with this on-going environmental project sharing the same goal” he concluded.

Sharp Interpack clearly share the vision of Sainsbury's packaging standards, based around using materials which are compostsable or readily recyclable for their customers and are working hard researching material and processing techniques. This is demonstrated through a £2million investment in brand new machinery pioneering a closed loop in-house recycling system.