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Retail

UK’s Co-op Rolls Out Compostable Carrier Bags In More Than 1,000 Outlets

By Dayeeta Das
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UK’s Co-op Rolls Out Compostable Carrier Bags In More Than 1,000 Outlets

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.

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"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.

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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.

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