Albert Heijn has made significant strides in its packaging reduction goals by transitioning a substantial portion of its fresh chicken range from rigid plastic containers to flexible film bags. This strategic move results in a 60% reduction in plastic usage per package and is anticipated to save the retailer more than 200,000 kg of plastic annually.
This initiative now encompasses high-demand products such as chicken fillets, tenderloins, cubes, and stir-fry pieces, building on the successful 2022 introduction for chicken legs, which initially saved 130,000 kg of plastic per year. The shift is a component of Albert Heijn’s comprehensive material efficiency strategy, which targets the replacement of rigid packaging with flexible alternatives across its refrigerated product lines. Since 2021, similar changes have eliminated substantial plastic volumes, including approximately 500,000 kg annually from ground meat packaging, 400,000 kg from pre-packaged cheese, and 60,000 kg from fresh pasta.
Nienke Tjerkstra, who oversees sustainability and health at Albert Heijn, remarked on the initiative’s significance in resource management. “By packaging our products more intelligently, we can reduce our impact on the environment every year. By packaging the chicken in bags instead of containers, we need significantly less packaging while maintaining the flavour and freshness our customers expect. This way, we demonstrate that sustainability, convenience, and flavour can go hand in hand.”
In addition to material savings, the new flexible packaging offers operational advantages. Its smaller size optimises transport logistics by requiring less space, enhancing efficiency. For consumers, the format allows chicken to be poured directly into cooking pans, streamlining the preparation process, while ensuring the product remains fresh and flavoursome.
The focus on material substitution is aimed at minimising waste and maximising efficiency throughout the supply chain, from production and transportation to the consumer’s disposal processes. This strategic move underscores Albert Heijn’s commitment to sustainability and operational excellence in the evolving retail landscape.
