Chilled and Frozen
This category covers a wide range of products in which packaging plays a key role in ensuring that food is protected and does not end up as waste. The challenge is getting the balance right by using the optimal amount of packaging as well as giving consumers added value such as resealable packaging.
The product categories include:
- ready meals;
- frozen pizza;
- sandwiches;
- milk
- desserts;
- Deli (quiches, salads, pies); and
- fruit and vegetables (frozen).
Pack formats are plastic, film, paper, board, metal trays, cans and glass.
Scope for packaging optimisation and reductions in food waste
There is huge potential for reducing packaging and improving product delivery, for example:
- down-gauging and de-layering to reduce packaging, considering primary, secondary and tertiary as a whole system, e.g. ready meals;
- use of refills or dilutes, e.g. frozen concentrated juice;
- increase the numbers of portions per pack and larger formats to reduce the packaging per use, e.g. Keep Me Freeze Me individual portions;
- use of recycled content;
- merchandising solutions which can help reduce primary, secondary and tertiary packaging. Merchandising can also help to communicate to consumers what changes have been made to packaging, e.g. fresh pizza;
- resealability to keep food fresher for longer, e.g. cheese;
- portion control to help consumers eat only what they need, e.g. pate; and
- extending shelf life through material choice.
Work in progress
- Engagement with key retailers, trade associations, brands and the supply chain to identify priorities, opportunities for collaboration and potential in the sector;
- The creation of working groups from within the frozen pizza and ready meals sector in conjunction with the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) to improve resource efficiency throughout the supply chain on own-label and branded products. (See Workshop);
- Stimulate innovation for new concepts for products with a low packaging or product impact;
- Review opportunities for further packaging optimisation;
- Greater use of recycled content; and
- A number of research projects in the category have already been carried out, including work with brands such as Bird’s Eye, Iceland and Dairy Crest. Research will be published online and disseminated through working groups and trade associations to facilitate change and encourage wider uptake of optimised packaging solutions across the sector.
