DS Smith helps Asda remove plastic shelf edge label holders

DS Smith is working with Asda to replace one million pieces of unnecessary plastic in 2021 from its PoS displays.

The packaging company says that it has found a sustainable alternative for price holders that will remove eight tonnes of plastic and 21 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Asda decided to re-evaluate price ticket holders on the edge of shelves known as shelf edge labels (SELs).

These have been widely accepted as a standard and easy application for displaying price tickets on temporary cardboard displays.

However, the nature of the type of plastic used in these fixtures (PVC) means that when they reach the end of their life, they cannot be disposed of in a sustainable way.

By undertaking trials a solution to use adhesive was reached which could mitigate plastic altogether. As a result, Asda says that less than 5% of PoS displays now contain plastic. The grocery giant is now looking to adapt this more widely.

Lisa Walker at Asda comments: “Removing unnecessary plastic is at the top of our minds and is also very important to our customers.”

“This project with DS Smith has enabled us to remove the plastic SEL holder, as well as making it easier for our shipper units to flow through our cardboard recycling stream.”