Guardian eschews plastic - Papers to be packaged in biodegradable potato starch-based wrapping

The Guardian’s print edition will no longer be sold in plastic packaging, becoming the first national newspaper to switch to biodegradable wrapping, the daily announced.

The Saturday edition of the paper contained a large number of supplements which are currently packaged in polythene to meet the demands of retailers and ensure they reach readers.

From now on, however, the Weekend magazine, the Guide, Feast, and Review will instead be wrapped in a material based on potato starch, which readers are encouraged to compost or put in their food waste recycling bin. The packaging does not contain any genetically modified material.

The change will increase production costs for the Guardian but is part of the newspaper’s plan to reduce plastic waste, following feedback from readers. The price of the Guardian’s weekday edition will increase by 20p to £2.20, while the cost of the Saturday edition will increase by 30p to £3.20. The Observer will also cost £3.20 following a 20p increase.

The change will be phased in across the whole of the country over the coming months, starting this weekend for readers in London, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Editor-in-chief Katharine Viner said that investigative reporting was difficult, costly and time-consuming. Thanks to the support of readers who buy the Guardian, and subscribe to their digital premium app, or make financial contributions to the Guardian, the media company is on the path to financial sustainability, she said.

– But the economic conditions for newspapers remain very tough. Sales of all newspapers are in historic decline; advertisers increasingly spend their money with technology giants rather than publishers; and the costs of printing, paper and distribution continue to rise – Viner added.

The Guardian London

Guardian

Katharine Viner

potato starch wrapping

composting

natural decomposition of organic matter