Sainsbury’s goes trayless on whole chickens, saving over 10 million pieces of plastic a year

• Sainsbury’s removed single-use plastic trays from its by Sainsbury’s whole chicken range in March
• The change is set to save 140 tonnes of plastic a year
• Sainsbury’s also recently made improvements to its chicken welfare standards

Sainsbury’s has announced that its by Sainsbury’s whole chicken range* is now trayless, after the retailer removed single-use plastic trays from its packaging. Using a minimum of 50% less plastic, the change is estimated to save 140 tonnes of plastic annually**.

The trayless products are available in all stores across the UK and online, helping to reduce the amount of single-use plastic customers have to dispose of at home. The change affects five products in total, including all by Sainsbury’s whole chickens ranging from extra small to extra-large sizes.

The film packaging can still be recycled at one of Sainsbury’s front-of-store  flexible plastics recycling points (available in all Sainsbury’s UK supermarkets).

The move is the latest in a string of plastic reductions as part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to halve its use of own brand plastic packaging by 2025. Last month, the retailer removed single-use  plastic lids from its own brand dip pots, including household favourites such as guacamole, tzatziki and sour cream and chive dip.

As part of its wider sustainability commitments, Sainsbury’s is also dedicated to protecting animal welfare across its supply chains. In March, Sainsbury’s made improvements to its chicken welfare standards, by moving all its fresh and frozen own brand by Sainsbury’s chicken to a lower stocking density. The move means its chickens now have 20% more space than the Red Tractor UK industry standard.

The retailer has also introduced more enrichment bales, pecking objects and platforms for perching, giving its chickens the freedom to express their natural behaviours, helping them live happier and healthier lives.

*SKUs include:

• Sainsbury’s British Fresh Extra Small Whole Chicken 0.9-1.35kg – 7987004

• Sainsbury’s British Fresh Small Whole Chicken 1.35kg – 7977686
• Sainsbury’s British Fresh Medium Whole Chicken 1.6kg – 7875193
• Sainsbury’s British Fresh Large Whole Chicken 1.9kg – 7874963
• Sainsbury’s British Fresh Extra Large Whole Chicken 2.1kg – 2.3kg – 7879607

**Based on plastic weight per g of previous plastic trays