UAE – Spinneys, a leading fresh food retailer in the UAE, has unveiled its collaboration with packaging manufacturer Al Bayader International to introduce recycled plastic packaging (rPET) in its stores.
Under the partnership, Al Bayader will fashion post-consumer recycled plastic (rPET) into innovative sustainable packaging solutions for Spinneys’ private label ‘SpinneysFOOD’.
This alliance marks a significant and environmentally conscious stride for Spinneys. The rPET packaging consumes notably less water, energy, and fossil fuels than standard ‘virgin’ PET packaging, promising a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions.
The initial phase of this transition will feature the new recycled packs, incorporating 30% rPET, within Spinneys’ bakery section, housing the popular SpinneysFOOD packaged croissants and muffin ranges.
Anticipated outcomes include a measurable annual reduction of six metric tonnes in CO2 emissions for Spinneys. Moreover, this initiative spotlights Spinneys’ commitment to diverting two tons of virgin PET away from landfills annually, signifying a robust environmental dedication.
Each package adorned with the new recycled packaging flaunts an individual “Al Bayader Recycl’d” QR code on the label.
This QR code empowers customers to scan and trace the manufacturing date of the recycled plastic product and determine the exact percentage of rPET content.
This initiative aims to bolster customer confidence, with the recycled plastic content independently tracked by R-Cycle’s platform—an open European traceability standard and software that offers a digital passport for recycled packaging material.
Warwick Gird, General Manager of Marketing at Spinneys, expressed pride in incorporating recycled plastic packaging into the SpinneysFOOD private label range.
Gird highlighted the brand’s focus on achieving tangible progress aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and its internal sustainability commitments.
He credited the innovation and commitment of packaging partner Al Bayader for reaching this pivotal milestone and emphasized plans to extend this project for greater environmental impacts.
As part of its broader sustainability strategy, Spinneys adheres to a ‘life cycle assessment’ for all new packaging and product design.
This approach meticulously evaluates the environmental impact of a product throughout its life, encompassing factors like greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and pollution.
The introduction of the new rPET packaging aligns with Spinneys’ circular packaging strategy, aiming to diminish reliance on ‘virgin’ materials.
Jamil Haddad, Group Vice President – Strategic Marketing at Al Bayader International, expressed enthusiasm about Spinneys becoming their pioneering retail partner and the first UAE retailer to adopt Recycl’d rPET packaging.
Haddad emphasized the environmental advantages of this shift, addressing climate change and advancing towards net-zero carbon emissions.
Al Bayader International, with over three decades of expertise in regional packaging manufacturing, remains committed to providing the most sustainable products.
This partnership marks a significant step in the transition to recycled packaging, aligning with the UAE’s 2031 Circular Economy Vision.
As the highly anticipated 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC approaches, hosted by the UAE from November 30 to December 12, both Spinneys and Al Bayader proudly align themselves with the UAE government’s Circular Economy Policy and its 2031 vision for sustainable governance across critical sectors like food production, manufacturing, consumption, and infrastructure.
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