We’re Improving Our Packaging at Your H-E-B
With operations across the great state of Texas, the scale of our impact at H-E-B means every small step we take to reduce waste can make a big difference. We believe it is our responsibility to actively look for and make sustainable choices wherever possible, particularly in our use of paper & plastic packaging.
Packaging Terms & Abbreviations in This Article
- PET: Polyethylene terephthalate is a clear, strong, lightweight plastic that is 100% recyclable.
- PCR: PCR stands for Post-consumer recycled, which means the material has been used by an end consumer and then recycled into a new product.
- FSC-certified®: The Forest Stewardship Council works to protect the world’s forests by promoting sustainable forestry practices; it encourages the use of recycled and recyclable paper & cardboard from forests certified or owned by the FSC
- Upcycle: To turn discarded or remnant materials into something new that is of higher quality or value than the original use.
- Polystyrene: A lightweight, synthetic plastic made from petroleum-derived styrene.
- Polypropylene: A type of thermoplastic fiber used for food packaging and for making ropes & artificial fabrics.
Sustainable Packaging Changes at H-E-B Restaurants
For the past several years, our team has been working to introduce more sustainable tableware options in our restaurants like True Texas BBQ & South Flo Pizza. Did you notice any of the following?
- 2020: Switched from petroleum-based plastic straws to plant-based, biodegradable straws
- 2021: Eliminated Styrofoam from all restaurant packaging
- 2022: Switched to-go containers to an American-made upcycled sugarcane fiber brand
- 2023: Introduced compostable cutlery kits, paper napkins made from 100% recycled material, recyclable cold drink cups, and compostable sugarcane fiber plates
DID YOU KNOW? You can opt for digital receipts at any H-E-B restaurant’s self-order kiosks and on True Texas BBQ app orders. Over time, we plan to expand digital receipts to more restaurant & drive-thru registers.
Packaging Changes in H-E-B Pharmacy
The digital receipt option isn’t only available at restaurants: you can also opt into H-E-B Pharmacy’s “Go Paperless” program! We estimate that it will help H-E-B Pharmacies use 105 million fewer sheets of paper per year. That equates to:
As of March of 2024, H-E-B Pharmacies are also switching from packaging your prescriptions in white paper bags to brown Kraft paper bags made from 100% recycled content.
H-E-B In-Store Packaging Changes
Do you love the fresh, high-quality, made-in-store food offerings at your local H-E-B? You might love them even more knowing the many sustainably oriented packaging changes we’ve made!
Produce
- Pre-cut fresh produce
- Before: Polystyrene foam trays
- After: FSC-certified® recyclable & 100% recycled fiber cardboard trays
- Made-in-store fresh guacamole
- Before: Plastic containers made with 25% PCR PET recycled plastic
- After: 100% PCR PET recycled plastic
- Produce party trays
- Before: 25% PCR PET recycled plastic
- After: 75% PCR PET recycled plastic
Deli
- Deli salads, kids’ lunches, and protein kits
- Before: 25% PCR PET recycled plastic containers
- After: 75% PCR PET recycled plastic containers
- 4-compartment snack & cheese trays
- Before: 100% virgin plastic containers
- After: 30% PCR PET recycled plastic containers
Bakery
- Fresh-baked French bread
- Before: Paper bread bags with polypropylene plastic window
- After: 100% biodegradable/compostable bread bags that are made from 100% FSC-certified pulp and are plastic-free
- Bakery cakes
- Before: Black plastic cake plates (not recyclable due to black plastic!)
- Did you know? Black plastic is typically not recyclable, because recycling facilities usually sort plastics by bouncing a beam of light off them. Black plastic absorbs light, so it can’t be sorted for recycling and goes into landfills or incinerators.
- After: 100% recyclable, clear PET plastic cake plates
- Before: Black plastic cake plates (not recyclable due to black plastic!)
Meat & Seafood
- Fresh meat (~65% of our In-Store trays today)
- Before: Polystyrene tray (100% virgin plastic)
- After: 25-50% Recycled Content Polystyrene trays with PET assortment
- Fresh seafood (100% of our In-Store trays today)
- Before: Polystyrene tray (100% virgin plastic)
- After: Minimum 25% Recycled Content Polystyrene trays
H-E-B In-Store Packaging Changes
H-E-B will continue to look for & implement changes to our product packaging to help keep Texas beautiful for generations to come. If you’d like to join us on our recycling journey, learn what can & can’t be recycled with most curbside services and start recycling your plastic grocery bags at your H-E-B’s storefront recycling bin. Together, we can protect Our Texas, Our Future!
