Supermarket chain Spinneys, and one of the UAE’s leading fresh food retailers, has tied up with Sharjah-based packaging manufacturer Al Bayader International to introduce recycled plastic (rPET) packaging across its stores.
With the help of regional partners, Al Bayader collects and converts plastic waste into post-consumer rPET, diverting significant waste away from landfills. The rPET is then developed into innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for Spinney’s private label ‘SpinneysFOOD’. For Spinneys, the partnership represents a significant and environmentally positive step forward, as rPET packaging uses significantly less water, energy, and fossil fuels than virgin PET packaging. The new rPET packaging is expected to cut down CO2 emissions by 20%.
In the first phase of the transition, the new recycled packs with 30% rPET will be found in Spinneys’ bakery across the popular SpinneysFOOD range of packaged croissants and muffins. Spinneys expects to reduce its annual consumption-based CO2 emissions by a measurable six metric tonnes. The initiative also lets Spinneys divert two tonnes of virgin PET away from landfills annually, highlighting the company’s strong environmental commitment.
The new recycled packaging comes with an ‘Al Bayader Recycl’d’ QR code on the label, enabling customers to scan and trace the date of manufacture of the packaging and the exact percentage of rPET it contains. The aim is to bolster customer confidence using the award-winning R-Cycle initiative; with Al Bayader International and German plastics extrusion solutions provider Reifenhauser Group providing the GCC region’s first digital product passport containing all relevant data on product materials and preferred end-of-life options.
Warwick Gird, General Manager Marketing at Spinneys Dubai LLC, comments, “We are incredibly proud to bring recycled plastic packaging to our SpinneysFOOD private label range, as we focus on making meaningful progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and our own sustainability commitments. We could not have achieved this important milestone in our journey without the innovation and dedication of our packaging partner Al Bayader. We look forward to expanding this project, creating further positive impacts for the environment.”
Considering the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water consumption and pollution impacts, Spinneys follows a life cycle assessment for all new packaging and product design under its wider sustainability strategy. The use of rPET packaging falls under this circular packaging strategy to reduce the use of ‘virgin’ materials.
Jamil Haddad, Group Vice President – Strategic Marketing at Al Bayader International, adds, “We are proud and thrilled to announce Spinneys as our pioneering retail partner and the first retailer in the UAE to switch to our Recycl’d rPET packaging. This not only carries significant benefits for the environment, but also helps us tackle climate change and move a step further towards net zero carbon emissions. As a leading regional packaging manufacturer with over 30 years of experience, we remain dedicated to offering the most sustainable products in the market. Our partnership with Spinneys is a key step in leading the transition to recycled packaging and achieving the UAE’s 2031 Circular Economy Vision.”
