Axfood is working in various ways to ensure that the range of our own brand products is packaged as sustainably as possible.

Our goal is to exclusively use recyclable packaging made from renewable or recycled materials by 2030. To achieve this goal, we have developed a packaging database that contains information on over 18,000 packaging materials.

Needs and characteristics determine the choice of material

While we are investing in climate-smart packaging designed to reduce food waste and be recyclable, it is important to consider the needs and characteristics of the goods when choosing materials.

It is crucial that the packaging preserves and protects the food, is cost-effective, food-safe, and practical within logistics, in-store, and for the consumer.

For the Såklart cleaning series, for example, Axfood uses only recycled or renewable plastic. However, completely removing plastic from many food items significantly increases food waste, which is not sustainable. We follow the development of new materials and implement them where possible.

It is important that the materials we choose can both provide the same protection as plastic to preserve the food and be recyclable.

Axfood reduces the amount of plastic in packaging

Axfood strives to remove or reduce the amount of plastic in packaging for own brand products and in stores:

• We have provided Garant’s fresh and cut salads with thinner plastic bags.
• We have replaced the black plastic in Garant’s meat trays with clear recyclable plastic and reduced the amount of plastic in the tray.
• Several single-use plastic items have been removed from store shelves.

Axfood increases material recycling

We are working in various ways to increase the recycling of different materials.

For example, we introduced a deposit system for our own brand Premier’s juice bottles in 2015 and have since continued to implement deposits on more products. In 2021, it also became possible to return several of Garant’s juice and smoothie bottles for recycling.

We also ensure that other packaging is manufactured in a way that makes it more recyclable. For instance, five different frozen chicken products from Axfood’s own brands Garant and Eldorado are sold in packaging with less print and larger white areas. When there is less pigment in the plastic, it becomes easier to recycle.

Less harmful chemicals

In addition to contributing to increased recycling, Axfood also wants to promote the phase-out of environmentally and health-hazardous chemicals in packaging that are listed on the SIN list by the ChemSec.

Many suppliers often have insufficient knowledge about both the added chemicals in the packaging and the process chemicals used. Therefore, Axfood advocates for legislation that requires information on which chemicals are included in a packaging or product. This would make it easier for Axfood to demand that packaging does not contain chemicals listed on the SIN list.