Yeo Valley Organic is saving 145 tonnes of plastic with the introduction of new reusable lids.
From this month, Yeo Valley 350g and 450g tubs of yoghurt will no longer be sold with single-use plastic lids. After each use, the reusable lids just need to be washed by hand or put in the dishwasher, before being reused.
Instead, reusable lids will be available via the company’s online loyalty scheme by exchanging ‘Yeokens’.
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On almost every pack from the organic dairy brand, there is a special code which can be redeemed online for Yeokens – these can be spent on goodies, discounts and days out, or used to play games and win prizes.
“After successful trials removing clip lids from our Greek style yoghurt range, we’re saying goodbye to plastic lids across our 350g and 450g tubs,” says Yeo Valley Organic head of brand planning and consumer communications, Sebastian Rusu.
He added: “Making this small change will remove 145 tonnes of plastic a year – that’s the equivalent of 188 Friesian cows, 24 African elephants or 17 tractors.”
“Sustainability is central to everything we do here at Yeo Valley. Being close to the farms, we see first-hand the incredible things nature can produce, and how humans can damage it.
Rusu continues saying that the company strives to put nature first, by “playing our part in protecting and preserving the world for future generations” and not controlling nature with chemicals.
He commented: “Packaging is an important aspect of our overall sustainability strategy and one where we can make a significant difference with even small changes.
“We are working to ‘close the loop’ on our packaging. We are members of The UK Plastics Pact and have made good progress on our journey to ensuring that all of our plastic packaging is fully recyclable and made from recycled materials,” Sebastian Rusu said.
The news comes as Yeo Valley announced the launch of its new Kefir Drinks last summer, as an extension to its ‘Love Your Gut’ range.