M&S shifts to paper packaging for two garlic baguette products

Credit: Marks and Spencer

Marks & Spencer has announced that it has become the first UK retailer to move to paper packaging on garlic baguettes, removing 5.5 million units of plastic.

All of M&S’ single and twin garlic baguettes are now available in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved paper packaging which can be easily recycled as paper at-home. A popular choice with M&S customers, the single garlic baguette is M&S’ biggest seller in garlic breads, selling 4.3 million units each year.

Reducing plastic packaging is one of the key issues that M&S customers care strongly about, and the retailer has a leading track record of taking action, such as being the first national retailer to introduce a fully recyclable paper fibre coffee cup and lid earlier in 2024.

Other industry leading moves include switching from a plastic bag to a paper band on bunches of bananas and switching key produce lines such as British Collection vine tomatoes, mushrooms and tropical fruit to cardboard solutions.

At the end of 2023, M&S also announced that it met its target to remove 75 million units of plastic in 2023/24, four months earlier than planned. The brand has committed to remove one billion units by 2027, as part of its Plan A roadmap to net zero by 2040.

Lucinda Langton, Head of Sustainability at M&S Food, said: “We know our customers rank packaging as a top priority, and M&S is committed to reducing plastic packaging as a key part of our Plan A roadmap to Net Zero. It’s a good step forward to remove 5.5 million units from our supply chain, and we continue to work with our suppliers to find innovative new materials, processes and equipment so that we can make change at scale. These changes mean that our customers can trust that the M&S quality products they love are made, sourced and packaged with care.”