Hovis, a renowned bread brand, is advising consumers to store their bread in the original packaging to reduce unnecessary waste of bread bags. The company is collaborating with the UK Plastic Pact to ensure that all plastic packaging for their loaves is reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Their goal is for 70% of the plastic packaging to be recycled or composted by them and for at least 30% to be recycled by customers.
Since 2020, Hovis has been enhancing its packaging for sustainability after a 2019 survey revealed confusion among customers about recyclable materials and low plastic bag recycling rates by local authorities. To simplify recycling, Hovis eliminated hard-to-recycle plastic coatings from their products. They have also started using pallet wrap with recycled content and introduced reusable bread baskets.
These initiatives have been positively received by the public, with research indicating that three out of four consumers acknowledge the benefits of recycling. Hovis is also focusing on eco-friendly transportation, working to reduce the emissions of their delivery vans. The company introduced 7.2-ton bread vans in 2019, resulting in significant fuel savings and reduced environmental impact.
In addition to delivery and packaging sustainability efforts, Hovis is dedicated to minimizing food waste. They offer three helpful tips to reduce food wastage, including utilizing end pieces of the loaf, freezing bread to toast later, and tying a knot in the bread bag to keep it fresher longer.