Tesco has launched a soft plastic collection drive and is to roll out recycling kiosks in 171 of its stores in the South West of England and Wales.
The initiative allows customers to return their used soft plastic packages, such as crisp packets and pet food pouches, regardless of where it was bought from.
Once collected, the plastic products will be sent to recycling plants where it will be washed, sorted and processed before being used in new packaging for food, household and beauty products.
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The scheme follows a trial in 10 branches in 2018, where customers turned in 10 times the expected amount of plastic, according to the Big 4 grocer.
Tesco’s recycling points are expected to recycle up to 1000 tonnes of plastic a year, the equivalent of 150 million standard loaf bags.
“It is an absolute priority to remove and reduce as much plastic as possible and ensure everything we use is recycled and kept out of the environment,” Tesco quality director Sarah Bradbury said.
“Where plastic serves an important purpose such as reducing food waste, these new recycling points make sure that every piece can be easily recycled.”
“Plastic pollution is one of the most visible symptoms of the environmental crisis and is devastating our natural world,” WWF sustainable materials specialist Paula Chin added.
“Businesses, governments and households have all got an important part to play in tackling the issue, so it’s encouraging to see Tesco extending their successful soft plastics collection trial across more of their stores.”
