Organic grocery box delivery service Riverford has switched from plastic bags to home compostable alternatives supplied by TIPA, citing savings of up to 1.25 million plastic bags each year.
Riverford was on the lookout for a high-quality eco-friendly packaging alternative that could still keep the food as fresh as it is when wrapped in conventional plastic.
To keep carbon emissions low, Riverford connected TIPA with packaging converter Brayford to keep its existing supply chain local.
The success of the three-way partnership has resulted in Riverford placing an extra order of over 1 million compostable bags for this year.
This follows data in July showing that 85 per cent of the British public believe that food packaging should be compostable.
Matthew Mountfield, Senior Buyer at Riverford said: “Sustainability is a huge focus for our business, and something that is incredibly important to our customers.
“In 2018, we conducted a survey and found that 82.5 percent of our customers already compost their food or garden waste.
“This encouraged us to seek out compostable alternatives to plastic to reduce the amount of packaging going to landfill.”
Steve Woods, Sales Director at Brayford said: “We are proud to play our part in helping Riverford supply its produce in eco-friendly packaging and have been impressed with how simple incorporating TIPA’s compostable film into our existing machinery has been.
“It was important to Riverford to keep its existing local supply chain, and with TIPA we have been able to achieve this, making our partnership a great success from the get-go.”
Gary Tee, Sales Director at TIPA said: “The fresh produce industry needs pioneers like Riverford to offer sustainable packaging choices including compostables to give consumers the chance to cut down on plastic and food waste.
“We look forward to the year ahead as we continue to support Riverford in supplying its produce in sustainable packaging that doesn’t compromise on the quality its customers expect.”
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.