Retail chain is the first to use paper packaging in tissue products in the UK

Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second largest supermarket, has announced that it is switching from plastic packaging to paper packaging across its entire range of own-brand toilet paper and paper towels. With the change, the British retailer will save 485 tons of plastic, the equivalent of more than 55 million pieces of plastic per year. To date, the move is the biggest plastic reduction the company has ever made in its business.

According to the retailer, the new packaging will be launched on 27 products. The paper packaging will be implemented across all lines by February 2024 and can be easily recycled at home through Kerbside recycling.

The packaging switch follows the introduction of double-length toilet paper rolls at Sainsbury’s in 2022. The multipack rolls contain double the number of sheets on each roll, reducing plastic packaging by 30% and saving 84 tons of plastic per year.

“We sell thousands of our own brand toilet tissue and kitchen roll products every week and by switching from plastic to paper on these household staples, we’re able to make a significant impact in reducing plastic. This change alone represents the biggest plastic reduction in our grocery products so far and our customers can expect many more changes to come. Collaborating with our suppliers to develop innovative packaging solutions to reduce plastic is a major key priority for Sainsbury’s, helping us to achieve our ambitious target of increasing recycled content and recyclability,” reported Claire Hughes, Sainsbury’s Product and Innovation Director.

Sainsbury’s has also recently passed on savings of more than £4 million directly to customers by reducing the price of selected own-brand toilet paper and paper towels, as part of its commitment to keeping prices down on basic household products.