UK supermarket chain Tesco has unveiled plans to remove hard to recycle packaging from its business by 2019.
Speaking to several suppliers at an Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) event, the company announced that it will remove, reduce and redesign packaging materials.
The UK’s supermarket chain will also focus on improving recovery and recycling through working with government on a national recycling infrastructure.
Tesco is requesting the government to create a consistent recycling infrastructure across the country, which would help to move towards closed loop packaging system.
Tesco chief product officer Jason Tarry said: “We will work with our suppliers to redesign and reduce all packaging materials and after consultation with our leading suppliers earlier this year we will remove all packaging that is hard to recycle from our business by 2019.
“To complete the journey to a closed loop approach, we stand ready to work with government to reform the current approach to recycling in the UK.”
The supermarket chain will eliminate the use of hard to recycle materials such as PVC, Polystyrene, oxy degradable materials, PLA (Polylactic acid), water soluble bio plastics and industrial compostable.
It is also planning to use other materials for the development of a closed loop solution or remove from the business.
Tesco is planning to avoid use of materials, including home compostable solutions such as cellulose and natureflex, oriented polypropylene, black plastic, polypropylene and complex laminates.
It intends to use materials such as sustainably sourced wood, board, paper and glassine, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glass, polypropylene, HDPE and LDPE, polyethylene, steel and aluminium.
In October 2017, Tesco announced plans to use fully recyclable or compostable packaging, as well as 100% sustainable paper and board.
Tesco has decreased packaging weight by 37% since 2007. It also avoided the use of polystyrene in fish packaging, helping to curb 653 tonnes of plastic from the supply chain.
In addition, Tesco removed 700 million single-use carrier bags and move to bags for life’ made from 94% recycled plastic in 2017.
