Auchan removes its plastic trays from the butcher's and fishmonger's departments in France. The retail chain has developed with Alliance Packaging Group and Silver plastics 100% compostable vegetable fibre trays for home use.
This innovation, exclusively at Auchan, will eventually replace 55 million conventional black or white expanded polystyrene (EPS) trays, which are non-recyclable. This represents approximately 1?100 tons of plastic avoided per year.
This new packaging was implemented this month in a few hypermarkets in France. Roll-out to all stores will begin next March.
These new trays are made of materials from agricultural co-products, such as sugarcane residues. They do not contain glue and are certified home compostable. By 2022, Auchan will also make the label and packaging film compostable.
In addition to being compostable, these zero-plastic trays would offer a better shelf life for the products. About one day longer for fish for example.
Auchan will produce these trays in Europe from next July in order to reduce the carbon impact of these trays. And a project of two manufacturing plants in French overseas departments and territories is under study, to avoid the transport of these packaging overseas.
