Pack Materials Switches for Easter Eggs

Waitrose is to package its own-brand Easter eggs in recycled PET and recycled board.

19/02/08 Major retailers and brands have revamped their Easter egg packaging to reduce materials use and introduce more recycled content.

However, Packaging News has learned that Sainsbury's has decided not to repeat its trial of bioplastic packaging for its SO Organic Easter egg.

In 2007, the multiple trialled the world's first compostable Easter egg packaging, using Plantic Technologies' biodegradable and organic corn-based bioplastic.

Sainsbury's was unavailable for comment on the change. It states on its website: "By 2008, 100% of our Easter egg packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable."

The decision came as Cadbury launched an Easter egg without an outer box. Its foil-wrapped Treasure Eggs are displayed on store shelves in a retail-ready corrugated tray with a shaped plastic tray inside, reducing plastic by 75% and using 65% less board than standard eggs.

Waitrose is to package its own-brand Easter eggs in recycled PET and recycled board. Packaging and reprographics manager Karen Graley said: "We have reduced the amount of materials used, replacing cardboard components with rPET, which is one step closer to a mono-material pack.

"The packaging is now much easier for our customers to recycle."