Warburtons set for compostable packaging move

Chairman Jonathan Warburton told BBC Radio 5 Live ​the baker was developing an alternative to the wax covered paper used to package the product, which is not currently recyclable.

“We are almost at the point of being able to produce a vegetable-based compostable ​[alternative],” said Warburton. “These things take a long time, but we’re almost there. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference ​[from its traditional packaging].

Securely packaged and untampered ​

“The most important thing to us is to make sure that the consumer buys a securely packaged product that hasn’t been tampered with.”​

While Warburton acknowledged the stigma surrounding the use of plastic packaging, he praised its use in making food safe to eat by consumers at the end of the supply chain.

“Plastic​ [was] a genius product when it was developed and it still is,”​ he added. “What’s important is to get people to recycle.”​

Sustainable packaging innovations ​

Warburtons’ plan to introduce compostable packaging followed a number of sustainability innovations by food and drink manufacturers in recent months.

AB InBev has announced a multi-million pound investment to eliminate plastic rings​​ from Budweiser and Stella Artois can packaging sold in the UK by the end of 2020.

Meanwhile, Warwickshire-based Fatherson Bakery is now using 100% recycled and 100% recyclable plastic​​ for all its blisters and is looking to eliminate the cellophane around its products in favour of a plant-based material.