Alara Wholefoods
Case Study: Reducing Packaging Waste
FDF members are committed to making significant reductions in the levels of
packaging reaching households and to advising consumers on how best to recycle
or
otherwise recover used packaging. Here are two examples of current bestpractice
–
showing what is possible by work which has been undertaken or is now underway
in
this area.
Alara Wholefoods has made a 70% reduction in the level of packaging reaching
households by launching its new organic muesli range in a paper bag instead of
a
bag-in-a-box. The paper bag is made of kraft paper lined with a plastic film.
It
weighs just
15.5 grams compared to the bag-in-a-box which weighed 48 grams.
Based on recent sales figures, Alara estimates that this initiative has
prevented almost 7.2 tonnes of packaging reaching consumers over the past year.
The company estimates that it will save about £9,000 per year in packaging costs.
The bags will soon be made biodegradable too, following the replacement of the
plastic liner with a bio-plastic and the introduction of biodegradable labels.
Advice will be provided to consumers on how to maximise the environmental
benefits through composting.
More Information
This case study is featured in FDF's Five-Fold Ambition: The Environment – Making a Real Difference
Report (pdf, 878kb).
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Last reviewed: 08 Aug 2008