MARKS & Spencer (M&S) is to trial a paper fibre alternative ready meal tray on its ‘fan favourite’ Fiery Chicken Tikka Masala.
Due to the technical differences of cooking methods between an oven and a microwave, the retailer said that ready meals have ‘long presented a challenge’ to the industry as plastic has been the most resilient material for both.
The ‘first-to-market’ tray is described as ‘convenient as ever’, with it designed and tested to ensure that it is suitable for both cooking options. Made of cardboard created with renewable paper fibres, M&S said it is easily recycled at home – with no need to remove the thin plastic lining.
The introduction will see the removal of 150,000 units of plastic, with it launching as a trial run with the potential to be rolled across M&S’ entire Meal for Tonight range. The retailer added that the limited run comes to gather real customer feedback on the new material, with innovations such as it offering a glimpse into the future with alternative packaging options even on challenging products like meals.
Andrew Clappen, technical director at M&S Food, said, “Our Plan A roadmap is focused on how we can become a net zero business across all our operations and entire supply chain by 2040 and we’re constantly looking for new ways to do things to try and take big steps along that journey. We know customers care about reducing the amount of plastic packaging and we’re determined to help them by finding new materials and processes to make sure our packaging is as easy to recycle as possible.
“Plan A is a key part of the incredible quality M&S is known and loved for and this trial is another example of why our customers can trust that we’re committed to doing the right thing and giving them the confidence that they can make more sustainable choices when shopping in our Foodhalls. I want to congratulate the team on all their hard work over the last couple of years testing and trialling different materials and I can’t wait to hear what customers think of the new tray.”
Ben Fogle, Plan A ambassador at M&S Food, added, “M&S Food is famous for leading the way in innovation, and it’s great to see M&S launching the first-to-market paper fibre tray for a freshly prepped meal. Not only can it be put in both the oven and microwave, it can also be easily recycled in paper recycling at home. Innovations like this really have the potential to make a difference and reduce plastic use.”
