UK-based frozen food supplier Iceland Foods has committed to eliminate plastic packaging from all of its own brand products within next five years.
The move follows a recent decision made by the UK Prime Minister Theresa May to eradicate all avoidable plastic waste in the country within next 25 years.
As part of this effort, May has set out the 25-year environmental agenda and ways to address the rising plastic pollution in the country’s oceans.
Iceland, which has already removed plastic disposable straws from its own label range, is planning to replace its plastic packaging with a range of fully recyclable packaging comprising paper and pulp trays along with paper bags.
Iceland Managing Director, Richard Walker said: “The world has woken up to the scourge of plastics. A truckload is entering our oceans every minute, causing untold damage to our marine environment and ultimately humanity, since we all depend on the oceans for our survival.
“The onus is on retailers, as leading contributors to plastic packaging pollution and waste, to take a stand and deliver meaningful change.”
The frozen food specialist is also planning to launch its new food ranges in early 2018 in paper-based packaging rather than plastic food trays.
Walker added: “There really is no excuse any more for excessive packaging that creates needless waste and damages our environment. The technologies and practicalities to create less environmentally harmful alternatives exist, and so Iceland is putting a stake in the ground.”
Greenpeace has welcomed the Iceland’s decision to become the first supermarket in the go plastic-free by 2023.
Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said: “Iceland has taken up that challenge with its bold pledge to go plastic free within five years. It’s now up to other retailers and food producers to respond to that challenge.”
