Finland's K-Group and Fortum have entered into a partnership to promote the use of Fortum Circo recycled plastic in new products.
The collaboration was created to find new avenues for using recycled plastics through consumer research.
Recycled Plastic
According to a study conducted by the K-Group's customer community, consumers find recycled plastic suitable for most purposes, and products made from it are also used in the sorting process.
The survey found that 71% of respondents segregated all packaging plastic waste generated in the household.
According to the study, the best uses for recycled plastic are as cleaning supplies, small interior items, yard furniture, and tools.
Ninety-five percent of the respondents wanted the origin of the material to be communicated with, for example, a symbol.
Fortum Circo recycled plastic, made from consumer packaging, is used in both industrial applications and consumer products such as garden tools and household items.
Recycled plastic is of interest to manufacturers of plastic products because it has a smaller carbon footprint than virgin material.
The climate impact of Fortum Circo recycled plastic is, on average, half that of virgin plastic material.
K-Group
In the past, the K-Group has utilised recycled plastic in the packaging material of several products, such as Pirkka detergents, rinse aids, and dishwashing detergents, and Pirkka fruit and vegetables products.
In addition, K-stores' roll plastic has been used in Pirkka toilet and kitchen paper packaging.
Speaking on the survey carried out by the K-Group and Fortum, Timo Jäske, K-Group's vice president for grocery, said, "The results of the study give the K-Group a good view of which product groups customers want from products made of recycled plastic.
"Together with Fortum and companies manufacturing recycled plastic products, we are actively striving to innovate new circular economy products in our range already this year."
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Conor Farrelly. For more Packaging news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
