Ground meat in cardboard packaging

Kaufland aims to further reduce plastic waste and is currently developing a new type of packaging for meat in the self-service counter.

This is starting with packaging for ground meat for self-service, which requires 70 per cent less plastic. Instead of a plastic tray, ground meat will in future be packed in a cardboard box lined with a thin plastic film. The cardboard is made entirely from renewable raw materials that are controlled and certified by FSC. By separating the cardboard and film, the individual recyclable materials in the packaging can be recycled separately. There are instructions on the packaging telling consumers how to separate the components for recycling.

“Ground meat is one of the best-selling foods in our self-service meat department. This is why it was particularly important to us to find a sustainable solution that would make a big difference in a simple way,” explains Robert Pudelko, Head of CSR Purchasing Germany. The ground meat in the new packaging will be available at Kaufland from autumn 2019. According to the Schwarz Group company, the new packaging will save around 125 tons of plastic a year in the sale of ground meat alone. Kaufland is part of REset Plastic, the Schwarz Group’s plastics strategy. The holistic approach ranges from prevention, through design, recycling and disposal to innovation and education.