Unicoop Firenze is set to become the first major Italian supermarket chain to impose a ban on the sales of disposable plates, glasses, and cutlery made of plastic.
The ban will be implemented from 1 June across its network of 104 stores throughout Tuscany.
The move will result in reducing around 220 million pieces of disposable plastic items annually, which is equivalent to 1,500 tonnes of plastic.
Sustainable Alternatives
The products will be replaced with biodegradable and compostable alternatives.
According to Unicoop Firenze, its commitment to environmental issues goes far beyond profit generation, with the retailer aiming to 'change consumer behaviour'.
The retailer's latest initiative follows the success of Unicoop Firenze’s Arcipelago Pulito (Clean Archipelago) project, which has seen fishermen bring back to the land the waste collected during their daily fishing activities.
The initiative is set to go national once the Italian government approves the SalvaMare (Save the Seas) bill.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
