Environmental Initiatives

All our bread bags are recyclable

At Hovis ® we are continually investigating new sustainable packaging solutions and evaluating these against key criteria such as total packaging carbon footprint and minimising food waste.

Hovis ® are members of the UK Plastic Pact run by WRAP. The Pact brings businesses together across the entire plastics value chain to tackle plastic waste. The aim is to create a circular economy for plastics, capturing their value by keeping them in the economy and out of the natural environment. With support from the government the Pact also aims to ensure consistent recycling across the UK.

The UK Plastics Pact is the first of a global network of Pacts, enabled by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy initiative. The UK Plastic Pact brings together businesses from across the entire plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs to tackle the scourge of plastic waste. We are creating a circular economy for plastics, capturing their value by keeping them in the economy and out of the natural environment.

We are working with the UK Plastic Pact on the following initiatives

Eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (reuse) delivery model.
100% of plastics packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
70% of plastics packaging is effectively recycled or composted.
30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging.

Link to UK Plastic Pact Video

To learn more about the objectives and plans of this vision head over to
https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/plastic-packaging/initiatives/the-uk-plastics-pact

Our Recent Packaging Milestones

During 2020 we removed all hard to recycle plastic coatings from our flow-wrapped products.
During 2021 we also eliminated all double side coated carton boards making the boards easier to recycle.
From Jan 2021 we have started to introduce pallet wrap with 30% recycled content.
All our transit bread baskets are reusable and returnable for reuse and made from recycled content.
All packaging features OPRL (On Pack Recycling Logo) labelling making it easy for consumers to know how to dispose of their packaging.
All packaging is designed with optimum size and thickness to reduce our plastic footprint.

OPRL research has found that 3 in 4 of us see recycling as something positive that we can do to help the planet.

The above OPRL research comes from their consumer research report titled “What Consumers Want”, you can download it here: https://email.oprl.org.uk/oprl-publishes-annual-report-pp-reminder-and-industry-events-1

With this in mind Hovis ® are committed to making sure that is very clear to our consumers how to recycle our packaging. This is why all of our packaging shows clear information through the use of pack recycling logos.

All Hovis ® bread packaging is recyclable. Please visit the Recycle Now website below to find your nearest front of store collection point. https://www.recyclenow.com

WRAP

WRAP is a charity that promotes and encourages sustainable resource use through product design, waste minimisation, re-use, recycling and reprocessing of waste materials.

Hovis ® works closely with WRAP on a number of key initiatives like reducing food waste and the recycling, minimisation and reuse of plastics.

We are always looking at ways to make it easier for households to recycle our bread bags and we encourage our consumers to get involved. There is clear information on the back of our packs to give you all the information that you need in order to recycle our bread bags. All of our bread bags are recyclable at larger supermarkets.

If you have any questions please visit our FAQ

Happy recycling!

Reducing food waste

At Hovis ® we want to ensure you can enjoy your Hovis ® loaf for longer, so why not try one of our top tips to reduce food waste and make the most of your loaf!

Three tips to help reduce food waste

Always try to use the end pieces of your loaf, they are super tasty!
Why not freeze your loaf? You are able to toast our bread from frozen.
Always tie and knot the end of your bread bag to ensure that it stays fresher for longer.

Delivering our loaves the sustainable way

At Hovis® we recognise our responsibility to operate a logistics road fleet that has minimal emissions impact on the environment and a continual commitment to improving road safety and driver performance.

We have removed 1.3m miles from our operation in order to reduce emissions.

Since introducing a new 7.2t convenience vehicle to our fleet in 2019, in 2020 a total of 50 were in operation, covering 2.5m miles nationally into urban and inner-city areas, saving approximately 35,000 gallons of fuel vs conventional 7.5 tonne and 12 tonne vehicles which they have replaced.

We have recently signed a carbon offsetting agreement to support the Ghanaian cookstove project. This will offset the whole of the logistics carbon footprint, whilst supporting the development in lifestyle for Ghanaian families.

Recognised in 2020 by Microlise and awarded the Prestigious “driver excellence” award.

FareShare

FareShare is a charity network aimed at relieving food poverty and reducing food waste in the UK, which has been running since 1994. Hovis ® have been supporting this charity for over 3 years.

In 2021, Hovis ® supported over 850 charities up and down the country. We have donated over 500,000 loaves of bread helping to support and feed thousands of people, breakfast clubs and coffee mornings.

In 2022, Hovis ® continued supporting more than 850 charities nationwide. This time we donated over 250,000 loaves of bread helping to support and feed thousands of people, breakfast clubs and coffee mornings.