GREGGS has said that coffee cups remain an ‘ongoing challenge’ as it continues to ramp up the sustainability of its packaging – with it revealing that 98.3% of its packaging can now be put into a typical domestic recycling bin.
The bakery chain published its annual report on progress made on The Greggs Pledge, which was launched in 2021 with ten commitments – one of which being to increase the recyclability of packaging – aiming to make the world a better place by 2025.
Unnecessary single-use plastics were cut by Greggs ahead of the launch of the pledge, with plastic tongs being exchanged for clear plastic lifting sheets and paper bags coming in place of paper carriers.
However, the bakery notes that easier-to-recycle packaging can sometimes be heavier than the previous solutions used. Work is ongoing to change and tweak existing packaging – with 2024 seeing rigid plastic lids on its salad boxes exchanged for a peelable film lib, resulting in a 90% weight reduction. A board-based wrapping solution is also used to package the made-to-order wraps, leading to a 10% weight reduction. In total, the weight of Greggs’ packaging has dropped by 20.9% since 2019.
The end of 2024 also saw the introduction of new baguette and oval bites packaging. Greggs explained that the previous bags used were made from materials that were hard to recycle due to their composition.
In order to make them fully compliant under On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) rules, Greggs reduced the plastic windows to a 10% plastic weight ratio = allowing the packaging to be widely recyclable.
Additionally, the chain also launched what it said is the ‘first-to-market’ heat-resistant, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) hot drink lids containing 30% recycled content – in what it said is a ‘significant step forward’ in reducing single-use plastics. The innovation required ‘extensive’ testing to ensure the lids met Greggs’ ‘stringent’ quality standards, balancing heat resistance with recyclability.
The chain revealed that it is now working on turning the last two items of packaging – its four-pack sausage roll film-front bag and gingerbread bag – into ‘easily recyclable alternatives’. Trials for improved versions began in early 2025 and Greggs said it is ‘confident’ that, by the end of the year, 100% of its packaging will meet the criteria for easy recyclability under the OPRL scheme.
However, coffee cups remain an ‘ongoing challenge’ for Greggs. Explaining that its hot drinks cups are a composite of two materials – a paper cup with a waterproof lining. Many local councils and waste management providers lack the infrastructure to separate and process these materials effectively, which significantly limits their recyclability, Greggs said.
The chain is a member of the National Cup Recycling Scheme, an initiative designed to improve the recycling rate of takeaway coffee cups across the UK. Through this, Greggs contribute to a collective industry voice, highlighting challenges with viable hot cup alternatives and advocating for changes to the nation’s recycling infrastructure.
Secondary packaging is also being worked on by Greggs with testing underway on returnable plastic ‘pallecons’, which serve the same function as corrugated cardboard boxes but can be reused again and again.
The bulk containers are suitable for transporting both liquid and dry goods, and are collapsible, meaning they take up less space when empty. As well as eliminating packaging waste, Greggs trial is proving that they reduce damage to our products – reducing food waste – and are easier to handle and unload, saving its people time. They also allow Greggs to make better use of space inside our vehicles, improving load capacity.
Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, commented, “Our packaging now weighs less and almost all of it can be recycled; more than 30% of our range is a healthier choice; over a quarter of our shops contain equipment or features that are helping us to save natural resources; the energy intensity of our operations drops each year; our workforce is more diverse; and we have continued to make ethical, sustainable buying decisions and work with suppliers who share our values.”
