Carrefour Brasil is set to introduce new packaging for its organic products, bakery, cafeteria and cold cuts, as well as selected e-commerce products.
The initiative is a part of the retailer’s plan to review and replace the packaging used in its supermarkets, hypermarkets, and e-commerce.
In 2019, the company will prioritise the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials across its entire organic assortment.
The Goal
The initiative is expected to generate an impact that is equivalent to replacing more than 51 million Styrofoam trays with more ecological alternatives, within a period of 12 months.
Styrofoam packaging will be substituted by corrugated cardboard for organic products under the group's private-label brands.
For cold cuts and sliced cheeses, Styrofoam packaging will be replaced with sheets of FSC-certified paper and recyclable polyethylene plastic.
Other Initiatives
Meanwhile, the cafeterias of all Carrefour supermarkets and hypermarkets have started to replace plastic drinking straws, cups and coffee stirrers with materials made of paper and wood.
In the bakery section, paper packaging with a transparent plastic display will give way to kraft paper, which is recyclable and biodegradable.
Customers will also be encouraged to bring their own containers to stores for the purchase of dried fruit in bulk, helping to reduce the use of plastic bags and cardboard boxes.
In addition, packaging for food ordered online will now be offered in seven different sizes instead of four.
Also, for all new private-label products, the packaging will be analysed and standardising to offer information about the recycling potential of packaging materials used in the products.
Anti-Waste Platform
Carrefour's anti-waste platform includes a comprehensive recycling programme offering more than 450 collection points for materials such as paper, plastic, metal, tetra pack packaging, batteries, cartridges, toners, lamps, used cooking oil, and medicines.
The retailer is also actively involved in food donation, sustainable waste management, offering discounts on products close to their expiry dates, repackaging products left on shelves for new sales offers, and manufacturing co-products from food that would otherwise be discarded.
Carrefour recently introduced blockchain technology for pork meat sold under its private-label brand Sabor & Qualidade.
A first-of-its-kind in the market, it will allow customers to access detailed information on all stages of production and distribution of the product.
The range, which offers 18 products, plans to add four more to the assortment by the end of 2019.
By 2020, the retailer aims to implement the technology in all products under the Sabor & Qualidade range.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
