Costa Coffee has unveiled new packaging as part of parent company Whitbread’s sustainability commitments.

The new packaging has been designed to use fewer resources, saving over 18 tonnes of paper annually. This initiative is part of the company’s drive to achieve zero waste to landfill operations by 2017.

It is part of parent-company Whitbread’s wider corporate responsibility strategy, ‘Good Together’, which aims to ensure long-term sustainability of the company while being a force for good in society.

According to the chain, Costa is the first coffee retailer in the UK to have products that include front-of-pack labelling consistent with that used across the food and drink industry and that is supported by food and health organisations, including the British Heart Foundation.

Jane Treasure, head of food, said: “At Costa, we are delighted with the improvements we have made to our packaging and the customer response to it. Now using fewer resources and displaying new nutritional labelling, this re-designed packaging demonstrates Costa’s role as an industry leader with regard to corporate responsibility and sustainability.”

The news comes as Costa opened its first concession with new partner The Garden Centre group, in Northampton.

Opening last month on Newport Pagnell Road, a spokesperson for Costa said: “As the UK’s favourite coffee shop and one of the success stories on the UK high street, we work closely with planning departments across the country to open new stores for the benefit of their local communities, creating new jobs and providing attractive and popular social meeting places.”