SuperValu has introduced 100% recyclable and compostable packaging across six lines of own brand potatoes.
The retailer said that in-season Irish New Season Roosters and Kerr Pinks are now available in paper potato bags that can be disposed of in either the green or brown bins found in most homes and businesses.
Plastic netting has been removed from bags and replaced with cotton netting to ensure 100% of packaging can be recycled or composted.
Over 13,500 tonnes of potatoes are sold in SuperValu every year.
Ray Kelly, interim managing director, SuperValu, said: "Removing unnecessary plastic from our own-brand packaging is a priority for us and by 2025 100% of SuperValu own-brand, fresh produce and in-store packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable."
"The move to compostable and recyclable packaging on six lines of potatoes is another significant step towards that goal. So far, these changes have stopped 380Kg of plastic going to the landfill annually, a positive move that will impact communities around Ireland,” he added.
In 2019 84 tonnes of black unrecyclable plastic was removed from produce packaging by moving to loose produce, cardboard or recyclable plastic as part of SuperValu’s sustainable packaging strategy to make 100% of its own Brand and fresh fruit and vegetable packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
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