Marks & Spencer removes over four million units of plastic packaging in its cafes
Marks & Spencer has removed over four million units of plastic packaging in its 300 M&S Café’s across the UK.
The retailer has made its entire range of M&S’ Café sandwiches and toasties available in easy-to-recycle FSC-approved cardboard or paper packaging which uses 79% less plastic.
Although a small window allows customers to see the product inside, it is accepted by recyclers to be recycled with paper in the paper waste stream.
M&S said the change will remove an estimated 4.5 million units of plastic including 1.7 million across sandwiches and 2.8 million across toasties. The retailer is working to remove one billion units of plastic packaging by 2027 and wants to become net zero by 2040.
At the end of last year, M&S became the first national retailer to launch takeaway coffee cups which are 100% recyclable in the paper waste stream.
Lucinda Langton, head of sustainability at M&S Food, said: “Our sandwiches and toasties in M&S Cafés are particularly popular options as customers look to sit down and relax when shopping with us.
“We know plastic is an issue our customers care deeply about and this small change to packaging in our Café’s – with no compromise on quality or taste – will make a big impact on our Plan A roadmap to net zero.”
