Ecological meat packaging without the use of a tray

This new packaging format comes from the Waitrose (www.waitrose.com) supermarket chain that currently has 231 shops in England, Scotland and Wales.

Familiar meat trays will become a thing of the past as Waitrose introduces 'snip and slide' packaging that will remove 90 tonnes of plastic waste from customers’ bins every year.

The packs can be easily snipped open and the contents slid into the pan, saving time in the kitchen as well as space in the refuse sack.

The "flow pack" packaging machinery technology is provided by ULMA Packaging using the 'ARTIC' range of flow wrappers. This format is already used for foods such as bagged salads and crisps. The packs are robust yet lightweight enough to withstand other items being placed on top of them in the shopping basket.
 
Minced and diced meat will be the first products to be re-packaged.

The finished package that you can see in the photograph, is provided by DOVECOTE PARK (www.dovecotepark.com), supplier of beef to Waitrose.

Waitrose meat buyer Andy Boulton said: "Waitrose is committed to reducing waste and we have listened to our customers who wanted a practical solution to help achieve this. These packs are more slim-line which gives shoppers more room in their shopping bags, fridge and when stored in the freezer. And with the added benefit of cutting waste by half but at no extra cost. I predict that this style of packaging will be a real hit. Feedback from customers has already been really positive as they can still buy the same quality meat products but will be minimising waste."