Packaging trial for tackling mushroom waste in the home

Transcription

1 Packaging trial for tackling mushroom waste in the home BACKGROUND Eighteen percent (18%) of mushrooms produced and sold by Tesco in the UK are wasted in the home, with a value of 19 million per year. Tesco sought to understand why this waste occurs and then to assess and trial a technical packaging solution to help reduce consumer mushroom waste. As a signatory of Courtauld Commitment 3 (CC3), this helps Tesco and potentially other retailers to achieve their target to reduce household food and drink waste by 5% by The packaging for the trial was designed to mimic and improve on current mushroom packaging in regard to preserving mushroom quality, as well as to deliver environmental impact savings. This was done by replacing stretched film with a flow wrap for mushroom punnets. Tesco collaborated closely with its mushroom supplier G s Fresh, packaging manufacturer Coveris and WRAP s consultant Anthesis throughout the project. KEY FACTS Mushroom waste in the home generated by Tesco customers equates to an estimated value of 19 million per year or 26,330 tco 2 e In the UK, 42% of mushrooms (by weight) are discarded by consumers because they have passed their best before date Estimated annual carbon emissions associated with 2,050 tonnes of Tesco mushroom packaging (primary and secondary) is 7,400 tco 2 e 99% of the Tesco punnets used for mushrooms are made of PP and 99.8% of film is made from PVC (by weight) It is estimated that the packaging change from the 6 week trial resulted in 0.2 tonnes reduction in primary packaging. If this change were extended to other lines, or across the industry, the expected potential environmental savings would be: Packaging reduction (tonnes) Carbon emissions (tco 2 e) Potential food waste saved (tonnes) All Tesco pre-packed mushrooms [1] (annual) 640-1, Potential roll out to CC3 signatories [1] (annual) 1,680-3,720 1,210 1.These scenarios assume the punnet portfolio has been lightweighted by 36% Project Details Behaviour Results Trial Results Survey Results Conclusion page 1

2 PROJECT DETAILS Trialling a technical packaging solution aimed at reducing mushroom waste in the home Phase One: Food Waste and Technology Review Established a baseline of Tesco s mushroom packaging (by weight, carbon emissions & cost) Carried out a review of WRAP food waste diaries [1] to understand why consumers waste mushrooms in the home Carried out a technology review of current and emerging packaging technologies for extending the shelf-life of mushrooms, and optimising mushroom packaging Completed a punnet optimisation exercise to rationalise current Tesco mushroom packs Agreed on the change criteria and packaging format to take to trial in store Phase Two: Packaging Trial Carried out a six week trial [2] across ~100 Tesco stores with mushrooms being sold in the new packaging, while also undertaking: An in-store consumer survey to establish consumers satisfaction with the trial packaging and corroborate consumer behaviour research in the home A home consumer survey to monitor in situ performance of the trial pack against standard packs A controlled shelf life trial to test over 2,000 trial packs for mushroom quality and extended shelf-life, including temperature stress conditions Phase Three: Analysis and Conclusions Calculated the potential food waste saved through shelf life extension, packaging weight reductions and carbon emissions (associated with packaging) reductions for the trial Extrapolated these reductions across the whole of Tesco s mushroom portfolio, across wider CC3 signatories and the feasibility of rolling out to other fresh produce 1. WRAP food waste diaries were collected during 2012 from 950 households and 1,000 bins of which 225 entries were relating to mushrooms 2. Trial started early March 2014 Project Details Behaviour Results Trial Results Survey Results Conclusion page 2

3 Trialling a technical packaging solution aimed at reducing mushroom waste in the home CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR RESULTS: MUSHROOM WASTE IN THE HOME Using WRAP s food waste diaries, it was possible to assess why pre-packed mushrooms are wasted in the home. Forty two percent (42%) of mushroom waste [1] in the home was thrown away because the Best Before date had passed. The technological solution that was trialled in this project was primarily to extend the shelf life of mushrooms and was therefore aimed at reducing this quantity of waste. Research suggested that the remainder of mushrooms are wasted due to consumer related behaviour e.g. they peel mushrooms and/or remove the stalk. Although tackling this waste did not form part of the trial, a review of UK retailer on-pack messaging was done and highlighted that there is little consistency to the consumer about mushroom storage and preparation in the home, and that more could be done in this area. 1. Percentage is based on weight Project Details Behaviour Results Trial Results Survey Results Conclusion page 3

4 Trialling a technical packaging solution aimed at reducing mushroom waste in the home PACKAGING SOLUTION FOR REDUCING MUSHROOM WASTE IN THE HOME: TRIAL RESULTS The300gclosedcupmushroompackwastrialledusinganew PET flow wrap (MMP) manufactured by Coveris. This contained 1mm holes lasered into the surface to promote air flow over the mushrooms, striking the optimal balance between discouraging fungal spoilage and avoiding dehydration. Results show that mushroom quality (measured through colour, weight loss and aerobic conditions) not only matches those packed in original packaging, but is improved through use of the trialled flow wrap. The graph depicting mushroom colour over time shows that mushrooms in the trial packs lose their optimum colour at a slower rate compared to ones in their standard punnets, and the colour was unaffected by position of the packs in the pallet ( top or bottom ) during transit. As such, it has been agreed that the trialled flow wrap maintains and extends mushroom quality allowing the Best Before date to be extended by one day. Trial Results Project Details Behaviour Results Survey Results Conclusion page 4

5 AT HOME SURVEY Forty six (46) respondents were asked to take home two punnets of mushrooms (one standard pack with stretch wrap, the other with the flow wrap trial pack). They were asked to open the packs in their habitual way on day two of the trial and then asked to feedback on the quality of mushrooms and their packaging preference at the end of the trial. The perceived mushroom quality was better or the same for all criteria except for whether the mushrooms looked slimy. Although noted as part of the results, the responses about which packs had more slimy-looking mushrooms were not statistically significant this because 1) a number of participants removed the stretch wrap and were not comparing packs like for like 2) where the stretch wrap was not removed, responses regarding this were contradictory (about the same number of people reported each pack as having the more slimy mushrooms). Nine (9) respondents reported that the trial pack had more moisture but also stated the mushrooms looked less slimy. This could be due to the anti-mist properties of flow wrap of the trial pack which acts to draw away moisture from the mushrooms and collect this. Number of responses AT HOME AND IN-STORE SURVEY RESULTS In which pack did the mushrooms: Trialling a technical packaging solution aimed at reducing mushroom waste in the home IN-STORE SURVEY Over 200 people were surveyed in 15 Tesco stores where the trial flow wrap pack replaced the stretch wrapped punnets for 300g closed cup mushrooms The majority of people surveyed preferred the new flow wrap to the original stretch wrap (85%) Many of the respondents were attracted to the trial punnet s new bright wrap label with bold messaging in a large font. Other respondents disliked the original stretch wrap and therefore preferred the new alternative mainly because the stretch wrap can be pierced during handling. Stretch wrap Flow wrap Project Details Behaviour Results Trial Results Survey Results Conclusion page 5

6 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Trialling a technical packaging solution aimed at reducing mushroom waste in the home As a result of the successful trials, Tesco is now further investigating the adoption of the new packaging and furthering work to include: The trial flow wrapped 300g closed cup mushroom pack Acquiring more consumer insights from further at home trials; Developing consumer messaging for mushroom storage and preparation in the home; Extending the use of flow wrap to other fresh produce such as tomatoes and asparagus [1], citrus (lemons, limes, oranges), exotic vegetables & legumes (green beans, runner beans, mangetout, sugar snap peas), herbs (cut herbs), top fruit (pears), stone fruit (peaches & nectarines), grapes, root vegetables, (carrots, onions, parsnips), salads (spring onions, peppers); Engaging with key stakeholders within Tesco to garner support for a packaging change, including examining the economic business case for any packaging changes which take into account (food waste) savings longer term; and Taking the learnings and findings for use in further fresh produce packaging trials. The trial pack on display on shelves in stores in the Peterborough area Project Details Behaviour Results Trial Results Survey Results 1. Some retailers are already using Coveris flow wrap in their packaging of tomatoes and asparagus which is shown to extend shelf life by 2 days Conclusion page 6

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