Delhaize is placing a priority on the fight against plastic packaging and is launching a structural plan designed to ensure that the majority of its range of organic fruit and vegetables will soon no longer require disposable plastic packaging. In total, Delhaize hopes to eliminate 92 tonnes of disposable plastic packaging per year. With this development, Delhaize once again confirms that sustainability is one of its priorities and that the fight against plastic waste continues steadily.
From 28 January 2021, part of the organic fruit and vegetable assortment will be “marked” with the organic label so that the products can be displayed on the shelf without packaging. This technology is called ‘natural branding’ and allows fruits and vegetables to be marked by laser. This is a natural, environmentally friendly method in which letters or a symbol are ‘engraved’ into the peel. It is a non-contact and completely safe method: a high-resolution laser is used to remove the pigment from the top layer of the peel. This is a very light process that does not affect the flavour, aroma or shelf life of the product in any way. The logo thus marked can be consumed without any problem.
For Delhaize, the most durable packaging is the one that doesn’t exist. In this context, the laser logo is the ideal solution. But quality, taste and shelf life must of course be guaranteed. This technology is therefore not applicable to all organic products. But Delhaize has other sustainable solutions in mind. Organic tomatoes are now packed in a cardboard tray, organic herbs in a paper bag and cherry tomatoes in a cardboard cup. So, out of a total of 140 organic fruit and vegetables, 110 are already packaged in a sustainable way. For the remaining 30, a sustainable alternative is being developed.
This project is part of the “The Lion’s Footprint” programme launched in 2019 that we were informing you about a few months ago.
More information: www.delhaize.lu
Pictures: Delhaize