Objectives of the initiative
At MTY Food Group Inc. we apply an internal packaging policy aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of our products throughout their life cycle. This internal policy is based on the 3R principles - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - and aims to limit the disposal of residual materials in landfill sites.
In collaboration with our partners, we give priority to packaging solutions that are reusable or have greater recyclability potential. We replace plastics that are difficult to recycle, such as black plastic, with materials that are more widely accepted by sorting centers in the regions where we operate. We also seek to lighten our packaging without compromising quality or the customer experience, favoring local suppliers and integrating recycled materials to promote a circular economy. We also adopt a holistic approach that considers environmental, operational, marketing and organizational dimensions, with a view to continuously improve the management of our waste materials.
Challenges
Take-away packaging is essential to our foodservice business, but the transition involves several challenges along the way. The availability of eco-responsible solutions, cost-effective sourcing, production timescales, coordination with suppliers, deployment logistics and communication with our stakeholders all require rigorous management. This transition also requires close collaboration with our brand platforms, each of which has its own realities, brand visuals and customer expectations. Harmonizing these needs while meeting our sustainability objectives requires flexibility, planning and constant support for our teams. For example, replacing the black pigmentation of the sushi tray with a more recyclable material raised issues of consumer perception, since black enhanced the visual presentation of the product. This required specific coaching to ensure buy-in to the change.
Benefits
By replacing black plastic sushi trays, which are difficult to recycle, with transparent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), @Yuzu Sushi, one of our brands has improved their recyclability potential, being easier to capture at the sorting center. Using around 30% recycled material reduces the use of virgin material, helping to reduce their environmental footprint and to support a more circular management of resources. This initiative was made possible thanks to the collaboration of our local supplier, who shares our vision to integrate more responsible practices into the design of our products.
Our proactive approach has also enabled us to be ready ahead of regulations concerning single-use plastics.
