Zespri goes plastics-free at Monoprix

Zespri has announced zero-plastic packaging solutions for its conventionally grown fruit at French Monoprix stores. The moves comes two years after Zespri’s launch of cardboard baskets for its organic kiwifruit range and is part of the firm’s sustainability commitments announced at Fruit Logistica 2020.

Zespri’s conventional Zespri SunGold and Zespri Green arrived from New Zealand in May and will now be sold to Monoprix customers in 100% cardboard packaging. With consumers increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of plastic packaging, Monoprix and Zespri decided to join forces in order to reduce their use, with the support of Zespri’s partners responsible for manually packing the baskets in France.

Nele Moorthamers, Zespri’s general manager Europe, said,

“Both consumers and retailers expect brands to listen to environmental concerns. At Zespri, we are currently studying different alternatives to best meet these expectations.”

The approach is also a response to the new rules set to come into force in France next year that will severely curtail the use of single-use plastic packaging.

Monoprix’s Damien Castagnier confirmed that reducing plastic was a top priority for Monoprix, with the aim of eliminating its use completely.

“After the 100 per cent cardboard baskets initiated on Zespri kiwis in organic farming for two seasons, we are pleased to be able to offer exclusively to our customers these new 100 per cent cardboard baskets on green and yellow Zespri kiwis,” he said.