Sonae MC has joined the Portuguese Plastics Pact, an initiative aimed at fostering the circular plastic economy in Portugal.
This step is in line with Sonae MC’s Sustainability Policy, which prioritises the sustainable use of plastic, the retailer said.
The Portuguese Plastics Pact’s 23 members have committed to a series of 2025 targets, including:
- Defining a list of single-use plastic items deemed problematic or unnecessary and measures for their elimination, through redesign, innovation or alternative (reuse) delivery models by the end of 2020
- Ensuring that 100% of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable
- Increasing collections so that at least 70% of plastic packaging is effectively recycled
- Incorporating, on average, 30% of recycled plastic in new plastic packaging
The Portuguese Plastics Pact's progress against these targets will be released publicly on an annual basis.
Core Values
Commenting on the initiative, Isabel Barros, executive board member at Sonae MC, said, "Sustainability is one of Sonae’s values, therefore we are committed to an active contribution to the resolution of the most urgent environmental and social challenges of our time.
"Proliferation of the use of single-use plastic and ineffective recycling policies contribute to a huge environmental challenge. For that reason, fostering a responsible use of plastic is one of our primary focuses. The Portuguese Plastics Pact plays an important part in the process to stimulate a circular economy as far as plastic is concerned.”
Sonae MC incorporates 80% recycled material in its reusable carrier bags, which has led to a reduction of approximately 1.3 thousand tonnes of virgin plastic.
Its Continente banner has developed a 100% recycled line of bin liners, which incorporate plastic from operations within shops and depots. This is estimated to save an additional 740 tonnes of virgin plastic per year, according to the company.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Elizabeth Schroeder. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
