ASDA has increased the proportion of its own-brand packaging that can be recycled to 97.5%, it has revealed in its fifth environmental, social, and governance report.
Highlights in the last year include the launch of its Just Essentials beef mince in vacuum-packed packaging, leading to a 60% packaging reduction – whilst removing 43 tonnes of plastic annually and being recyclable with bags at large stores.
Asda revealed that the new packaging also enables the shelf-life of the product to be increased by up to nine days. Also 39% smaller in size, it allows consumers to store more in their fridge and freezer.
A new packaging format was also introduced for laundry capsules, moving away from a plastic tub into a cardboard box. This enabled Asda to reduce the size of the container – redesigning it into a squarer shape, leading to supply chain efficiencies including the removal of 105 trucks off the road annually and a fully-recyclable box.
However, it wasn’t all a success. Asda’s ‘broccoli unwrapped’ trial proved to be an idea loved by customers, but the supermarket revealed that, without the plastic wrap, the product didn’t stay fresh – leading to waste levels for broccoli rising by over 25%, compared to the 1% for the wrapped version.
Other trials did prove to be a success, however. The weight of Prosecco bottles was reduced by 4.8% – which cut 26.5 tonnes of glass. Elsewhere, a 1g weight saving in plastic punnet for its 300g tomatoes resulted in a 16-tonne annual reduction in plastic.
In early 2025, Asda teamed up with Podback to make recycling used plastic and aluminium coffee pods easier via its toYou parcel returns service. The free Podback service was set up by Nestlé, with the initiative seeing coffee grounds transformed into renewable energy and soil improver, whilst the aluminium and plastic is utilised to manufacture products such as drinks cans, building products, and garden furniture.
Asda’s vape recycling service had collected approximately 60,000 used vapes per month by December 2024, whilst Asda Pharmacies allowed for pre-filled Novo Nordisk EpiPens to be returned via the PenCycle initiative – allowing them to be recycled into items such as furniture and lamps.
Helen Selby, general counsel and company secretary at Asda, said, “Our ESG report highlights how Asda delivers value beyond price. We’ve made progress towards reducing emissions, improving packaging recyclability, and supporting causes our customers care about. Our ambition is to continue to be a business that improves every day and provides ever better support to the communities we serve.”
