Crunch time for crisp producer
THE UK’s biggest crisp brand, Walkers, is under pressure to explain why it is helping to fuel the plastic waste littering the streets and seas by producing more than 7000 nonrecyclable crisp packets every minute.
A new analysis carried out by campaign organisation 38 Degrees has found Walkers is set to produce an additional 28 billion plastic crisp packets by 2025, the date by which the company has pledged to make its crisp packets 100% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable.
Crisps and ‘‘crispstyle snacks’’ are popular staples in British households, regularly eaten by 90% of adults, according a recent Mintel report. UK consumers munch their way through 6 billion packets a year.
But, although the inside of conventional crisp packets are shiny and look like foil, they are in fact a metallised plastic film. Governmentfunded body Recycle Now advises that no packets are recyclable at present and they should be put in the rubbish rather than the recycling bin.
Beachcleaning volunteers in Cornwall have retrieved old Walkers packets believed to date from the 1980s and 1990s.
Last Wednesday, a 38 Degrees petition calling on Walkers and other manufacturers to stop using plastic packaging in its crisp packets was handed in to PepsiCo, Walkers’ parent company, and Geraint Ashcroft, of Cardiff, who started the petition, met senior executives from the firm.
Walkers produces 11 million crisp packets a day at its Leicester factory, one of the world’s largest crisp production plants. That means 7000 nonrecyclable crisp packets are being produced every minute and more than 4 billion a year, 38 Degrees said.
‘‘This research proves that big companies like Walkers are not taking responsibility for the astounding amount of environmentally damaging plastic waste they are making,’’ said Lorna Greenwood, campaign manager at 38 Degrees. ‘‘There’s huge public concern about the amount of plastic being produced and that means it’s crunch time for Walkers to decide if they will listen to their customers.’’
A spokesman for PepsiCo said: ‘‘We are committed to achieving 100% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable packaging by 2025. We have a number of initiatives in place to reduce the amount of packaging we use and at the same time, we’re examining the use of different packaging materials, both plant and paperbased.
‘‘We are also investing in research and development to explore options to improve the recyclability of our packs. We don’t have all the answers yet, which is why we’re collaborating with leaders in this area to share the latest science and practical solutions.’’
The company is working with biotechnology firm Danimer Scientific on the development of biodegradable packaging. In the UK, it is supporting antilitter programmes such as Leeds By Example, which will pilot initiatives to improve recycling rates outside the home. — Guardian News and Media
According to recycling.kiwi.nz/solutions/softplastics, chip (crisp) packets are among the soft plastics accepted for recycling at participating stores in New Zealand.