Mercadona has announced that it plans to invest more than €140 million over the next five years to implement measures to reduce the use of plastics in its operations as part of its Strategy 6.25 initiative.
Introduced in 2019, Strategy 6.25 involves all employees and focuses on making different processes in the assembly chain more sustainable.
By 2025, the retailer aims to reduce plastic use by 25%, make all its plastic packaging recyclable, and also recycle all plastic waste generated by the company.
Plan Of Action
The plan of action involves changes in different processes in the company, from the definition of future packaging to coordination with suppliers, adaptation in shops, waste management, and logistics.
The elimination of single-use plastic bags and single-use disposable plastic is already underway, the retailer added.
A team comprising members from different departments in the organisation coordinates all the activities involved in the company's plastic reduction strategy.
The retailer also invites customers and employees for feedback on the implementation of these measures.
Store Upgrade
In the past two months, Mercadona has modified and upgraded 72 stores to meet the requirements of Strategy 6.25.
The company will also train 90,000 employees in Spain and Portugal to enable better implementation of its plastic reduction goals.
Suppliers are already working on the implementation of the strategy in collaboration with various departments of Mercadona, the retailer added.
In addition to Strategy 6.25, the Spanish retailer also has its environmental management system focused on logistics optimisation, energy efficiency, waste management, sustainable production, and plastic reduction.
Among other lines of action, Mercadona gives a second life to more than 220,000 tonnes of cardboard and plastic per year and provides customers with recyclable paper bags, as well as reusable plastic bags and raffia bags made from recycled material.
© 2020 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.
