Why the Baking Industry Must Prioritise Sustainability Beyond Product Packaging

With Global Recycling Day on March 18th, it’s a timely reminder that sustainability in packaging must go beyond what consumers see on the shelves. While much of the conversation around sustainability focuses on reducing plastic waste in product packaging, we need to highlight another critical piece of the puzzle – the materials used in the supply chain, particularly the delivery equipment that keeps the industry moving.

The baking industry has made commendable progress in improving primary packaging, from recyclable plastic bread bags to reducing unnecessary packaging in bakery products. But what about the behind-the-scenes elements? The sustainability conversation can’t stop at the product; it must include the way goods are transported and delivered.

Sustainability Starts with Reusability

Unlike many industries that rely on cardboard cases, plastic shrink wrap, and disposable secondary packaging, the baking sector has long relied on the humble bread basket – a reusable, durable plastic crate that can last for hundreds of trips before being fully recycled to make new baskets. This closed-loop system significantly reduces packaging waste and carbon footprint.

However, sustainability isn’t just about having reusable equipment it’s about ensuring that equipment stays within the supply chain. When bread baskets are lost, stolen or misused, the industry is forced to manufacture replacements, undermining the very sustainability goals we work so hard to achieve.

The Growing Issue of Plastic Theft and Premature Recycling

One major challenge we face is the growing issue of plastic theft and premature recycling. While plastic recycling is vital, there is a dark side to some recycling practices, where recyclers take plastic that still has a useful life left, chipping and selling materials that could have been reused multiple times before being properly recycled. This disrupts our circular economy, forcing manufacturers to create new plastic baskets unnecessarily, increasing waste instead of reducing it.

At Bakers Basco, we continue to track and recover misused and stolen baskets, working tirelessly to prevent them from being illegally diverted into wasteful recycling streams. Every basket taken out of circulation means more plastic production, more resources used and ultimately, a step backward for sustainability.

A Call to Manufacturers: Sustainable Practices Must Go Beyond the Product

The responsibility for sustainability in our industry doesn’t just fall on retailers and policymakers. Manufacturers must take ownership of their entire supply chain, ensuring that sustainability isn’t just about what the consumer sees but extends to the equipment used to deliver goods efficiently and responsibly.

On Global Recycling Day, let’s challenge ourselves to think beyond traditional packaging and consider the bigger picture. A truly sustainable baking industry isn’t just about recyclable bread bags – it’s about maintaining the circular economy of delivery equipment, reducing waste at every level and preventing unnecessary plastic use.

If we’re serious about sustainability, we need to protect and prioritise reusability before recyclability. Otherwise, we risk losing sight of the real goal: reducing waste altogether.