Seven of the UK’s leading food retailers have adopted a new self-separating packaging solution for their own-brand instant porridge pots.
The K3® r100 packaging, developed by Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland, is now being used by Waitrose, Greggs, Morrisons, M&S, Tesco, Lidl, and Asda. The innovative design allows the cardboard outer layer to separate from the plastic pot automatically during waste processing, improving recyclability rates.
Rachel Sheldon, Sustainability and Innovation Manager at Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland, welcomed the decision.
“We are excited to see so many UK retailers recognising the benefits of our self-separating packaging,” she said. “Following Symington’s, which was the first UK food producer to adopt K3® r100 for its Oatburst instant porridge brand last year, this marks a significant step forward for sustainable packaging in the retail sector.”
Automated Recycling Innovation
Greiner’s K3® r100 is the latest evolution of its K3® cardboard-plastic cup, first introduced over 40 years ago. Initially designed to reduce plastic use, the original K3® packaging featured a tear-tab that encouraged consumers to manually separate the cardboard from the plastic for recycling.
The new K3® r100 eliminates the need for consumer intervention. The materials separate themselves before reaching recycling facilities, ensuring accurate sorting and reducing the risk of packaging ending up in the wrong waste stream.
Sheldon highlighted the environmental impact of this innovation.
“The K3® r100 has made the impossible possible,” she said. “Achieving up to 98% recyclability no longer depends on consumers remembering to separate the materials. Instead, this happens automatically before the packaging reaches the recycling plant.”
Award-Winning Sustainability
Greiner Packaging’s self-separating technology has received multiple awards for its contribution to sustainable packaging.
In October 2023, the company was honoured with the Green Packaging Star Award by Austrian magazine KOMPACK for its role in introducing K3® r100 to Berglandmilch, the first company in Austria to adopt the design. In January 2024, K3® r100 won a World Star Packaging Award, and last November, it was recognised with the Packnews Special Prize at the Packnorth Awards for outstanding innovation in sustainable packaging.
Sheldon believes the widespread adoption of K3® r100 by UK retailers could set a precedent for other brands looking to improve their environmental credentials.
“With increasing pressure on businesses to adopt more sustainable practices, this packaging solution offers a simple yet effective way to reduce waste and boost recycling rates,” she said.
Future of Sustainable Packaging
With seven major UK retailers now using K3® r100 for their instant porridge pots, Greiner Packaging expects demand for self-separating packaging to grow across other product lines.
“This is just the beginning,” Sheldon said. “The more companies that adopt this kind of solution, the greater the impact we can make in reducing packaging waste and improving sustainability in the food sector.”
Industry experts believe such innovations could play a key role in addressing the UK’s packaging waste challenges, particularly as government and consumer expectations around sustainability continue to rise.