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The trial could result in removing more than 370t of plastic and packaging annually if expanded to all UK stores. Credit: Goncharov_Artem / Shutterstock

Budget supermarket chain Aldi UK is conducting trials to remove pulp trays and punnets from its fruit and vegetable packaging lines.   

This initiative is part of Aldi’s ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impact and offer alternative packaging for its products.   

The trials include removing plastic punnets from the company’s Nature’s Pick Cherry Tomatoes in select stores, a practice already implemented for its Nature’s Pick Sliced Mushrooms.  

The pilot is expected to expand on the retailer’s Baby Plum Tomatoes packaging.  

Furthermore, Aldi is eliminating pulp trays from its Nature’s Pick Mango and Avocado twin packs to cut packaging usage.  

Iceland Foods has unveiled a new vacuum packaging solution for its beef and pork mince range, promising to extend product shelf life and significantly reduce plastic waste. 

The supermarket chain is replacing traditional plastic trays with airtight vacuum packaging across its entire mince offering. 

This move is expected to increase the shelf life of beef mince by nearly 50%, keeping the product fresher for up to two and a half weeks. 

Notably, Iceland said it is the first UK supermarket to introduce vacuum packaging for pork mince as well. 

Following a successful trial in 50 stores, the new packaging will be rolled out to more than 1,000 stores nationwide and online this month. 

Berry Global Group has announced that its B Circular range of beauty and personal care packaging is now available with CleanStream recycled plastic. 

This move is expected to bolster the company’s sustainability credentials and provide brands with a wider range of eco-friendly packaging options. 

CleanStream, Berry’s proprietary technology, recycles nearly 40% of polypropylene (PP0 waste collected from UK households. This domestically sourced, mechanically recycled plastic is suitable for contact-sensitive applications, making it ideal for the personal care industry. 

According to a life-cycle analysis (LCA), packaging produced with CleanStream emits approximately 35% less carbon dioxide (CO​​​₂) than virgin plastic. 

Corrugated packaging company Smurfit Kappa has inaugurated two investments in Spain, as part of its commitment to achieve sustainability targets.   

The company has installed more than 12,000 solar panels at its Sangüesa paper mill, which, along with its biomass and recovery boilers, will help meet more than half of the mill’s annual energy needs.   

The solar panel installation in the Navarra region, which cost €6m, is expected to cut the mill’s annual carbon dioxide (CO​​​₂) emissions by more than 3,000 tonnes (t).   

Since 2005, the Sangüesa paper mill has successfully reduced its CO​​​₂ emissions by more than 51%.   

Additionally, Kappa invested €27m in its Nervión paper mill, which will transition the facility to a fully circular production process.   

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has initiated a 90-day consultation to seek feedback on the proposed guidance for labelling plant-based alternatives to egg products.   

This move comes as the Canadian government plans to develop clear labelling and representation standards for plant-based food in response to the growing consumer demand for these products. The new guidance is designed to help the industry adhere to legislation and ensure consistency in the promotion of these foods.  

It also aims to empower consumers to make informed choices aligned with their dietary preferences.  The proposed guidance outlines how to differentiate plant-based alternatives from traditional egg products.   

It details the use of words, images, and packaging to convey an accurate impression of the product that could not be construed as deceptive.