Conagra Brands Inc. plans to make 100 percent of its plastic packaging renewable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
The Chicago-based food company will focus its efforts to reduce its use of plastic and retool its current line of plastics packaging by the further development of plant-based packaging options and recyclable materials, a Jan. 22 news release said.
Conagra also plans to include a "How2Recycle" label on all plastic packaging to encourage consumers to put more materials in recycling bins.
Congra expects the packaging shift will avoid the use 33 million pounds of plastic in the next few years.
The company owns several brands with a variety of plastic packaging including Slim Jim, Gardien, Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's and Earth Balance, among others.
"Conagra is committed to being a caretaker of the environment," said Katya Hantel, director of sustainable development for Conagra Brands. "As part of this commitment, we are constantly challenging ourselves to more sustainably source packaging materials, generate less waste for disposal and help preserve our planet and its resources."
In 2017, Conagra introduced plant-based bowls made from fiber in its Healthy Choice Power Bowl products. The bowls have shucked 2.1 million pounds of plastic packaging since they were released.
"As a food company, packaging is an integral part of our product. That's why we are committed to making packaging decisions with the environment in mind," Corey Berends, senior vice president of research and development for the company, said. "We've set an ambitious goal and we look forward to working with our suppliers and others in the industry to identify innovative solutions that maintains food safety and freshness while also reducing our packaging footprint."