Thai Union has launched the seafood industry’s first shelf-stable tuna product in a recyclable, mono-material pouch.
Typical tuna pouches found in retail stores are made from aluminum foil and mixed plastics that are layered and cannot be recycled in standard waste streams.
However, Thai Union’s new Stir & Serve pouch, launched under its John West brand of seafood products, is solely made from polypropylene, which can be disposed of in many existing recycling streams throughout Europe, according to the firm.
THe company said the product uses a film technology developed by packaging supplier Mondi, thatdelivers the oxygen and moisture protection needed to keep tuna shelf-stable for 18 months at room temperature.
Stir & Serve debuted last month in the U.K and Ireland in Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Asda, and Ocado retail stores, with plans for the product to enter more retailers this year.
According to Thai Union, the new pouches open easily and are positioned as a two-minute meal solution that can be stirred through pasta, rice, or noodles. The tuna is Marine Stewardship Council-certified skipjack and is prepared using a specialized process that produces larger pieces of fish for a more substantial protein centerpiece.
Flavors currently available include Tomato and Basil; Soy, Ginger, and Honey; Mild Curry; and Spicy Mexican.
"We’re seeing new consumer segments increasingly hungry for lighter, more convenient formats,” Thai Union President of Global Branded Business Erwan Vilfeu said. “Stir & Serve proves that a recyclable pouch can deliver the shelf life and quality consumers expect but in a format that opens new meal occasions.”
Expounding on the latter benefit of the new pouches, Thai Union said the new range allows John West to expand from its established lunchtime position into evening meal settings, which is part of a wider company effort to make shelf-stable seafood more appealing in various meal occasions.
Additionally, the pouches capitalize on the boom of ready-meal and meal kit popularity across Europe.
The mono-material pouch technology will continue rolling out across Thai Union's branded portfolio through 2026, with Et Hop! products and Chicken of the Sea pouch products transitioning to the recyclable format by the end of this year. Additional launches, including John West products in Dutch stores, are planned to follow.
The technology aligns with goals laid out in Thai Union's SeaChange 2030 commitment to have 100 percent of its branded products use sustainable packaging across all formats.
