Sainsbury's, we're still waiting...

In 2024, our investigation The Hard Truth About Soft Plastic tracked the soft plastic collected for recycling by supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s and revealed that, instead of being recycled, much of it ended up being burned or turned into fuel.

Two years on, we've seen no change. So, we took the matter straight to the Sainsbury’s board of directors at their Annual General Meeting and challenged them on their plastic commitments and recycling claims.

We found that when challenged on their plastic policies, supermarkets can be very good at avoiding the question.

Our questions were not complicated. We asked for commitments, data and evidence. We asked direct questions, but we didn't get direct answers.

Instead, we got hit with plastic propaganda tactics: a mixture of self-promotion, deflection to recycling and waste management rather than making clear, measurable commitments to remove plastic packaging.

We think consumers, shareholders and campaigners deserve proper answers.

If you agree, take action by clicking the link below to send an email to Sainsbury's Group Director of Sustainability asking the same question we did – and demanding a proper answer.

Thank you for helping us to hold Sainsbury's accountable for their plastic packaging commitments.

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<div>Dear Group Director of Sustainability,I’m writing to ask you to answer a question about your soft plastic take-back scheme.In 2024, Everyday Plastic published The Hard Truth About Soft Plastic, an investigation which tracked soft plastic collected through supermarket take-back schemes, including Sainsbury’s.The investigation tracked 11 bundles of soft plastic collected through Sainsbury’s scheme. None were evidenced as reaching a recycling facility. Instead, all of the tracked material reached either energy recovery or refuse-derived fuel facilities.At your AGM in July, Everyday Plastic asked:In the two years since these findings, what changes has Sainsbury’s made to its soft plastic take-back scheme in response to these findings?The board’s response highlighted the amount of plastic Sainsbury’s has removed, reductions in own-brand packaging, improvements to signage and the availability of flexible plastic recycling in stores.But this did not answer the question. So I am asking you again:What specifically has Sainsbury’s changed about its soft plastic take-back scheme as a result of the findings of The Hard Truth About Soft Plastic?Please provide a clear and specific answer, including any changes made to how material collected through the scheme is sorted, processed and ultimately recycled.Consumers deserve to know what actually happens to the plastic they are told they can recycle through supermarket take-back schemes.We know that Sainsbury’s missed their <a href="https://corporate.sainsburys.co.uk/media/z01g231u/j-sainsbury-plc-annual-report-and-financial-statements-2026.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025 target for plastic packaging reduction</a>. With kerbside collection of flexible plastic now delayed until 2030, we need a clear answer that would help us understand whether Sainsbury’s scheme is genuinely delivering the recycling outcomes customers expect. I look forward to receiving your response to this question.</div>

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