In an attempt to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags, more than 1,000 Co-op food stores in the UK have introduced home-compostable carrier bags.
The bags are priced at 5p each, and will be initially available in Co-op food stores in communities where they are accepted by the local authority in the household food-waste collections.
Through this initiative, Co-op expects to eliminate around 60 million single-use plastic bags across the UK.
A Balanced Approach
Wrap CEO Marcus Gover emphasised on the need to develop a plan that addresses the problem of plastic pollution without resulting in "unintended consequences."
"I’m pleased to see this reflected in the Co-op’s approach to its compostable carrier bag initiative by carefully designing an approach that aligns with existing local collection systems," he added.
"By everyone moving in the right direction, we can transform the plastic system in the UK and keep plastic in the economy and out of the environment.”
After initial use as a carrier bag, the bags can be placed as liners in the food-waste caddy. They can then be turned into peat-free compost along with the household food waste.
Eco-Friendly Alternative
Co-op's environment manager, Iain Ferguson, said, “We have committed to removing own brand plastic products, and the launch of compostable carrier bags in our stores provides an environmentally-friendly alternative to single-use plastic shopping bags. ”
In autumn of this year, a live consumer testing of the bags was conducted in 22 stores in Greater Manchester.
Co-op has also pledged to make its own-brand packaging 'easy to recycle' by 2023. It will also eliminate all own-brand black and dark plastic packaging, including black ready meal trays, by 2020.
The Co-op’s strategy has been developed to meet the UN’s sustainable development goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
