Environmental
We're not afraid of tough issues. In fact they inspire us to come up with new ideas and to make real changes for the better.
Zero emissions vehicle
By September 2008, 20 per cent of the supermarket’s online deliveries will be made using electric vans, saving 45 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the first year.
100% recycled refuse sacks
As well as selling 100 per cent recycled refuse sacks, Sainsbury’s now sells compostable garden refuse sacks, as well as caddy bin liners for the one in three people that now home-compost in the UK. Both bags are made of starch fibre instead of plastic, which means they can naturally break down in a garden compost heap.
Anya Hindmarch £5 handbag
In April 2007 Sainsbury’s teamed up with designer Anya Hindmarch and global social change movement, We Are What We Do to launch a re-usable shopping bag in all stores. 20,000 bags sold out across the UK in under an hour.
Green generation carrier bag
A third of the new carrier bag will be made from recycled material, and what’s more customers can recycle their bag and Sainsbury’s will make it into a new one.
Protecting the forests scheme
Sainsbury’s gave a major boost to the world’s forests by announcing that it will be the first to source all of its own brand tissue from sustainable sources. All of its tissue will either be FSC approved or recycled.
Make the difference days
Sainsbury’s first ‘Make the difference’ day saw Sainsbury’s become the first major UK supermarket to stop giving out free disposable carrier bags in its stores and instead gave over six million free re-usable ‘Bags for Life’ (usually 10p) to customers for their shopping.
Organic jute bag
Sainsbury’s SO organic jute shopping bag has proved popular with customers, and as well as being carbon-neutral, it follows organicgrowing ideals, including using low input, non- GM material, rotation crops, organic manures and avoidance of pesticides.
Fair miles vs air miles
Research has shown that carbon emissions from Kenyan roses, including air freight, were 5.8 times lower than for Dutch roses. Results have provided a fresh challenge to current thinking on sourcing and the impact of air freight versus artificial heating and lighting for growing cut flowers.
Free cell phone and battery recycling service
Sainsbury’s will be the first retailer in the UK to offer customers a Freepost battery and cell phone recycling service. This is going to be the only scheme of its kind and is expected to save 2,500 tonnes of batteries going to landfill every year.
Ground white pepper tin
During the Second World War we reduced the paper used for our labels. It’s in our DNA to find ways to minimise our impact on the environment and make our labelling as clear as it can be.
Customers do their bit
Last year our customers recycled 100 million plastic bags at our recycling points at our stores. We have offered this service since July 2004.
Fish rating system
We have been developing an industry leading assessment system that will ensure that the fish we sell are sourced from sustainable sources.
Sainsbury’s recycling instructions
Packaging now gives clearer instructions for recycling, composting etc. such as ‘Sorry, not recyclable’ or ‘Please recycle’ so that customers know what they can do when they’ve finished with the wrapping.
Arts Council bag
Sainsbury’s and Arts Council England teamed up to produce limited edition re-usable shopping bags designed by well-known artists. The bags meant anyone could get a work of art for only 50p.
Colleague recycling
The amount of material our colleagues recycled in 2006 was equivalent to over 14,000 double decker buses.
Packaging that disappears
Sainsbury’s is half-way through its plans to replace 150 million plastic trays and bags with compostable packaging. By the end of the year, all ready meals and the majority of organic produce will be in compostable material, which can disappear on a garden compost heap or in a bin.