UK retailer Sainsbury’s has announced that it will introduce crownless pineapples to stores in its latest move to reduce waste, making it the only big four grocer to currently offer them.
Crownless pineapples, which are the same as a traditional pineapple just with the green leaves removed, will be available to buy at Sainsbury’s from Wednesday 1st November both in-store and online.
Sainsbury’s stated that the crown of the pineapple is typically thrown away by customers at home, so by removing it for recycling during the production process, the retailer claims it is helping customers to cut down on food-related waste.
The removed crowns will either be replanted in the pineapple fields or shredded and given to local farmers to be used for animal feed, reducing waste by 700 tonnes annually.
By removing the crown during production, Sainsbury’s will be able to fit more of the product into each box it ships to stores, resulting in a projected reduction of 2,500 boxes transported per year.
All packaging previously attached to the standard size pineapple will also be removed, further reducing the waste customers would usually throw away at home.
Claire Hughes, director of product and innovation, said: “We’re passionate about reducing our impact on the planet wherever we can, and we’re always looking for new and unique ways to make bold changes with sustainability in mind.
“Our new crownless pineapples may look a little out of the ordinary but they offer very clear benefits in reducing waste and packaging. We hope that our customers will embrace the change with the knowledge that this quirky fruit is helping us to repurpose waste within our supply chain, as well as helping to reduce waste in their homes too.”
The retailer said it would continue to sell a large pineapple, which will remain with its leaves attached, to offer customers choice.
