To reduce food waste Sainsbury’s introduces innovative solution: crownless pineapples
This week, Sainsbury’s has taken another important step in its effort to reduce food waste, by introducing crownless pineapples as a solution. This is a unique addition to their product lineup. The only place to buy this kind of innovative option is at Sainsbury’s among the major supermarkets in the UK.
From Wednesday, November 1st, shoppers at Sainsbury’s will be able to buy these crownless pineapples. They can be found both online and in physical stores. Ready to eat as it is fully ripe. As a result, it will save the time required for ripening at the customer’s house.
A pineapple crown usually discarded by consumers when they want to eat or cook with it. By removing these crowns during the manufacturing process, Sainsbury’s is taking a proactive stance to reduce customer food-waste. Various areas have been identified to reuse the discarded pineapple crowns. Those will be transplanted to arable land. As a result, it will be possible to contribute to the sustainable growth of the fruit. Otherwise, will convert into fodder. This will result in a substantial reduction of 700 tons of waste per year.
Sainsbury’s also intends on making its packaging more efficient. Packaging will no longer accompany standard-sized pineapples as per this company policy; thus customers would generate less domestic refuse. Being eco-conscious about food wastage as well as sustainability are some of reasons that influenced such kind decision on packaging by Sainsbury’s.
Additionally, there is the benefit of eliminating pineapple crowns during the production process. So, each box is transporting to their store easily. And they can now fit more uncrowned pineapples resulting in an impressive cut in annual shipment volume of 2,500 boxes. This helps in saving resources while reducing carbon footprint associated with transportation.
Sainsbury’s ensures that choice remains with consumers. Additionally, aside from the crownless option, they will still have large pineapples with leaves on them for those who may prefer that.
As said by Claire Hughes, Sainsbury’s Director of Product and Innovation,
“We’re passionate about reducing our impact on the planet wherever we can, and we’re always looking for new and unique ways to make bold changes with sustainability in mind. Our new crownless pineapples may look a little out of the ordinary, but they offer very clear benefits in reducing waste and packaging. We hope that our customers will embrace the change with the knowledge that this quirky fruit is helping us to repurpose waste within our supply chain, as well as helping to reduce waste in their homes too.”
This initiative is one of the many efforts that Sainsbury has been making to innovate and provide solutions on food waste not only within its organization but also within its customers’ households. For instance, Sainsbury’s recently announced a move away from “use-by” dates to “best before” dates for own-brand milk range which affects over 730 million pints sold each year by Sainsbury’s.
An important aspect of this program involving crownless pineapples is how these crowns are handling responsibly after removal. Hence between 25%-50% of such crowns can transplant in pineapple fields, hence guaranteeing a sustainable supply chain. When these crowns are unsuitable for transplant due to size or damage; will use as animal feed. Thereby reducing waste in line with sustainable development goals and ensuring environmental protection.
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