M&S trial food packaging made from recycled plastics
By admin on Jun 27, 2008 in Recycling, News, Home & Garden
Marks and Spencer’s has this month become the first retailer in the UK to trial the use of recycled plastic in food and drink packaging on a large scale and to gauge customer reaction to the concept.
The project is being run in conjunction with an Australian owned recycling company called Closed Loop Recycling. London Remade are also part of this great project, which is partly funded from WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme). The 6-month trial involves around 1,500 tonnes of recycled PET (rPET) plastics being incorporated into salad bowls, beverage bottles, recipe pots and trays, with the recycled content ranging between 30% to 50%.
The trial packaging was launched in Marks & Spencer’s stores across the UK earlier this month and carries on-pack declarations and messages such as “packaging made from 50% recycled material, 100% recyclable”, as well as the closed loop recycling logo. Throughout the duration of the trial customer reaction will be assessed through a series of in-store survey activities.
To further encourage closed loop recycling, Marks & Spencer will also provide recycling bins at the front of four central London stores for the collection of used plastic containers that are suitable for closed loop recycling, and cardboard packaging.
Helene Roberts, Marks & Spencer’s Packaging Manager, is very positive about the trial and the opportunities it could open up for other Marks & Spencer product ranges in the future. “The recycling of plastic packaging in the UK is still a major challenge and as a result, our customers have difficulty seeing any type of plastic as sustainable,” she says. “We believe that this project can help improve recycling levels and the customer’s perception of plastic packaging.”
Dr Liz Goodwin, Director of Materials for WRAP, said: “We are delighted to be working with Marks & Spencer, Closed Loop London and London Remade on this high profile range. The launch of the new recycled PET packs reflects the growing desire by retailers and consumers to see recycled plastic being used in packaging.
“In recent research conducted by WRAP, 79% of consumers said they would feel ‘more positive’ about a brand or a manufacturer that uses recycled plastic. We are confident that the consumer reaction to the new Marks & Spencer packs will be positive and anticipate that, as a result of the WRAP project, other retailers and branded manufacturers will be developing packaging with recycled content.”
Source: WRAP
