The Compleat Food Group has taken a significant step towards reducing plastic waste by eliminating plastic trays from its high-volume pork pie packaging. This initiative is expected to cut annual plastic consumption by 110 tonnes and save 430 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability across its extensive product lines.
Key Takeaways
- Elimination of plastic trays from high-volume pork pie packs.
- Projected annual reduction of 110 tonnes of plastic.
- Anticipated annual saving of 430 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
- Investment in automation equipment to maintain packaging efficiency.
- Applies to both branded and own-label pork pie products.
Environmental Impact and Innovation
With an estimated annual output of 200 million pork pies, the Compleat Food Group’s decision to remove trays from its packaging is set to eliminate 75% of the plastic previously used in these products. This move aligns with the company’s broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals and its commitment as a signatory of WRAP’s UK Plastics Pact. The group aims to remove unnecessary materials, increase recycled content, and improve the recyclability of its packaging.
Overcoming Packaging Challenges
The transition to trayless packaging required substantial investment in automation equipment at the company’s Tottle site. Previously, the automated packaging process necessitated a pause between sets of pies to accommodate the trays. However, through collaborative efforts with engineering teams and equipment suppliers, the Compleat Food Group has successfully adapted its processes to pack pies more efficiently without the use of trays, ensuring food quality and safety remain uncompromised.
Broader Sustainability Efforts
This initiative is part of a wider strategy by the Compleat Food Group to address packaging challenges. The company utilizes over 4,000 tonnes of plastic annually and is actively exploring new packaging solutions, trialing recyclable alternatives, and focusing on sustainability across its operations. Recent successes include replacing rPET plastic trays with recyclable paper-based board for its Squeaky Bean® range, resulting in an 82% reduction in plastic for that product line. The company is also working on transitioning to mono-material films for products like chorizo, which are designed for recycling through supermarket collection points and are expected to be kerbside recyclable from 2027.
Sources
- Compleat Food Group launches trayless pork pie packaging to cut plastic waste, Packaging Europe.
- We have removed over 100 tonnes of plastic with our trayless pork pie packaging · Compleat Food Group, Compleat Food Group.
- Trayless is Waste-less for Pork Pies · Compleat Food Group, Compleat Food Group.