19 May 2025 Marks & Spencer (M&S) is to trial a paper fibre ready meal tray for its Fiery Chicken Tikka Masala.

The trays have been developed in partnership with 2SFG and GPI. The aim of the limited run is to gain consumer feedback on the format. The FSC-certified tray is now available in stores and on Ocado.

According to M&S, the tray “is easily recycled at home as paper, with no need to remove the thin plastic lining”.

Andrew Clappen, technical director at M&S Food, said: “Our Plan A roadmap is focused on how we can become a Net Zero business across all our operations and entire supply chain by 2040 and we’re constantly looking for new ways to do things to try and take big steps along that journey.

We know customers care about reducing the amount of plastic packaging and we’re determined to help them by finding new materials and processes to make sure our packaging is as easy to recycle as possible.

“Plan A is a key part of the incredible quality M&S is known and loved for and this trial is another example of why our customers can trust that we’re committed to doing the right thing and giving them the confidence that they can make more sustainable choices when shopping in our Foodhalls.

I want to congratulate the team on all their hard work over the last couple of years testing and trialling different materials and I can’t wait to hear what customers think of the new tray.”

By John Kirwan, https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/