60 tonnes of black plastic prevented by British bacon brand

Devon-based bacon producer Denhay has announced it has switched its products’ packaging to fully recyclable clear trays made from 25% recycled plastic - completely removing black plastic from any retail packs of bacon which will avoid an estimated 60 tonnes of non-recyclable waste from going to landfill.

Denhay’s new easy-peel packaging is both consumer and environmentally-friendly, as the clear plastic tray can be recycled by most waste management facilities across the UK through local authority recycling schemes. 

The packaging is designed to have a fresh and contemporary look for mass shelf appeal as Denhay’s new Wiltshire Cure Thick Cut Smoked Back Bacon hits selected Waitrose from May 2019. The high-quality bacon has the royal seal of approval; Denhay is the official Bacon Curer to HRH The Prince of Wales and has been since 2008, and the recyclable packaging will be rolled out across all of Denhay’s premium bacon range this Spring.

Meat products such as bacon must be packed in plastic to ensure they meet food safety standards, however black plastic has been identified as particularly harmful by environmental organisations, as the method used to colour the material means it can’t be recognised by the sorting systems operating in most recycling plants.

Denhay is the first major bacon brand in the UK to have eliminated the use of black plastic product packaging, aiming to bring the company in line with ambitious targets set by WRAP’s Plastic Pact.

Jim Loescher, Managing Director of Denhay said: “We are proud of our environmental efforts and are committed to reducing the amount of black plastic we use. We have listened to our customers and the wider food industry and I am thrilled to launch our new clear plastic tray, that is not only 100% widely recyclable, but also produced from 25% recycled plastic. Being the first major bacon brand on the market to launch this is a great achievement for our business.”

Denhay’s new Wiltshire Cure Thick Cut Smoked Back Bacon will be available in selected Waitrose from 9th May 2019.