UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is switching from plastic trays to a cardboard alternative for its steak range.

The new packaging has 70% less plastic and has been rolled out across ten products in the chain's online and physical stores as of 5 July.

The packaging can be recycled at home in a kerbside recycling bin after the cardboard is thoroughly rinsed.

This will help save 249 tonnes of plastic each year.

Sainsbury’s product and innovation director Claire Hughes said: “As part of our Plan for Better commitments, we are trying to reduce plastic packaging across our own brand ranges, as we know that reducing plastic is important to our customers but also on our environmental impact.

“It’s why we are always looking at ways to innovate our packaging and reduce or replace plastic wherever we can, as quickly as we can. We’re pleased to save another ten million pieces of plastic a year by swapping our by Sainsbury’s steak trays to cardboard following the changes we have already made on So Organic and Taste the Difference packaging.

“While we are making good progress, we know there is more to do and we are committed to making bold changes that help us achieve our plastic reduction targets.”

Sainsbury’s rolled out the cardboard tray packaging on the steak range after previously launching it on its 'Taste the Difference' and 'So Organic' steaks.

In April this year, Sainsbury’s went trayless on its whole chicken product and removed plastic bags from the entirety of its banana range.

The supermarket chain also introduced cardboard cartons for its own-brand liquid laundry detergent range in March.