Jams and spreads manufacturer F Duerr and Sons has invested £100,000 in new machinery to change from glass jars to plastic for the peanut butter it supplies to Sainsbury's.
Duerr's, which is based in Wythenshawe, Manchester, says the switch is the first of its kind by a UK retailer.
Duerr’s, a 130-year-old family firm famous for its jams and marmalades, supplies Sainsbury’s whole range of own-brand peanut butter.
Sainsbury’s estimates that the switch from glass to plastic will cut packaging by 83 per cent or 882,000 kilos a year.
The supermarket chain has set itself a target to reduce its total packaging by a third by 2015.
The new lightweight plastic containers also require less fuel to transport, helping Sainsbury's cut its carbon emissions, and allow more empty jars to be packed per cubic metre, so less space is required for storage and transport.
Duerr's director Richard Duerr said: “It’s a major step forward for packaging and will significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions.
“It is a big investment to bring the jars to market, but we feel the investment will reap its rewards both in environmental impact and cost.”
Duerr's has a turnover of £50m and employs 200 staff.
