Environment

Asda has collaborated with supplier Parkam Foods and introduced lightweighted resealable packs to its entire Extra Special cooked meat range.

Yorkshire-based Parkam Foods has reduced the weight of the resealable pack by 25% and made the main body recyclable.

The company, which has supplied to Asda for four years, will pack all 12 lines in the resealable packaging.

Satty Virdee of Parkam Foods said although many foods use resealable packaging or recyclable packaging, "this was the first time we believe both have been used for cooked meats".

Virdee said: "Customers are increasingly looking for environmentally-friendly packaging. We are meeting this need as well as ensuring they no longer have to endure dry or curly ends to their meat – which in turn will help reduce food waste."

Cooked meats is a growing sector for Asda, which has increased sales by 49% over the past year against a market growth of 3%.

Asda was one of the original members of the Courtauld Commitment, which aims to deliver absolute reductions in packaging waste by 2010.