Waitrose & Partners has become the first UK supermarket to launch innovative new packaging for its ‘treat tubs’, which are made from 90% recycled materials and are fully recyclable.

 

This sustainable packaging innovation has been designed and manufactured by Cambridgeshire-based Charpak Ltd.  The Twist-Loc® tubs use 7.5 grams less plastic per tub than the previous design, and will save over 14 tonnes of new plastic being produced every year.  The brand-new packaging solution is the 2019 Winner UK Packaging Awards Innovation of the Year category.

 

Launched at Packaging Innovations 2019, the packaging has been designed and developed by Charpak’s in-house team of packaging designers and is available for other food and non-food manufacturers.  The tubs are available with or without sleeves, and can be branded to a client’s specific requirements.

 

 

The ‘Twist-Loc’ mechanism on the tubs has been specially designed to help anyone who has difficulty opening tight packaging. The tubs have also been designed so that no bits of unnecessary plastic need to be torn off to open and thrown away separately. The treat tub also has a removable cardboard sleeve so every element of the packaging can be widely recycled, and the tubs can be reused by customers at home.

 

The tubs are available in all Waitrose & Partners stores nationwide.  Waitrose & Partners have already recorded a 16% increase in sales, with customers reacting positively to the new design.  The new tubs are available across multiple lines in stores and online:

 

• Mini bite flapjacks
• Chocolate mini rolls
• Millionaire bites
• Chocolate brownies
• Rocky road bites
• Mini cornflake cluster bites
• Mini fruited popcorn bites
• Granola mini bites
• Millionaire bites

 

Karen Graley, Packaging Manager at Waitrose & Partners comments:

 

“Our aim is to ensure all of our own-brand packaging is widely recycled, reusable or home compostable by 2023. The introduction of these innovative new treat tubs is another positive step towards that goal, one that helps drive the circular economy and boost recycling rates across the UK as we are also including recycled content that has been obtained locally from the supplier.”

 

The Twist-Loc tubs are suitable for ambient, chilled and frozen food; and non-food products.

 

For more information on the Twist-Loc tub, which is manufactured from UK-sourced recycled material contact the Charpak team.