// Iceland returns to plastic packaging after a failed trial
// Managing director Richard Walker said the grocer still has a “mountain to climb”
// A new trial to launch plastic-free banana packaging will roll out in 20 stores from July 24
Iceland has reintroduced plastic packaging on its bananas after a failed trial, as managing director Richard Walker admits the grocer still has a “mountain to climb”.
The frozen food grocer had to return to plastic packaging – equating to 10 million plastic bags a year – after its paper bag replacement resulted in an unsuccessful trial.
Iceland had scrapped a plastic-free trial in Liverpool back in May, three months after a 20 per cent drop in sales.
However, Walker has said the grocer has come out fighting despite the challenges in its promise last year to eliminate plastic from own label products by 2023.
Meanwhile, a new trial to launch plastic-free banana packaging will roll out across 20 Iceland stores from July 24.
“This is all part of the process – we’ve got to keep experimenting,” Walker said.
“We’ve still got a mountain to climb – and we’re still all on our own. No other supermarkets are following our lead.”
Despite recent challenges, Iceland has already taken out 1500 tonnes of plastic across the supply chain, and it’s “costing a lot of money”.
“We can’t do anything that will endanger the success of the business, because there’s 25,000 jobs depending on it,” Walker said.
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