It’s time to get drastic with plastic
Food giants to follow Iceland’s lead
OUR biggest supermarkets have vowed to go green to tackle the blight of global plastics pollution.
The move came after frozen food retailer Iceland axed all plastic packaging from its own-label products.
Tesco plans to make all packaging fit for the recycling bin or compost heap by 2025. Morrisons will ditch plastic drinking straws for paper ones and Asda has a scheme to cut waste. Sainsbury’s said was “working hard” to make all packaging recyclable.
Iceland’s move will affect 1,400 products and the firm has new wood pulpbased trays to replace plastic ones destined for landfill. All own-brand food packs will be plastic-free by 2023 – 20 years ahead of the Government’s goal for plastic-free food aisles. Managing director Richard Walker said: “We’re throwing the gauntlet down. The world has woken up to the scourge of plastics.” Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven praised Iceland and added: “It’s now up to other retailers to respond to the challenge.” Downing Street agreed that other firms must “now follow suit”. Meanwhile, McDonald’s said all of its packaging will “come from renewable, recycled or certified sources” by 2025.