So last month some exciting news broke with the announcement that both Coles and Woolworths would ban the single-use plastic bag and instead, offer customers the alternative of re-usable bags. The plan appears to be a phase out of the bag across the next 12 months which gives customers the chance to adjust and prepare for the change. Many people have already taken the step of using re-usable bags, but it is great to see now, because of the supermarket chains stepping up to tackle the war on waste, everyone will have to follow suit.
Now with this blog I wanted to highlight some of the other steps supermarket chains have been taking to help reduce their impact on the environment through waste, many of which are lesser known to the average consumer. One great initiative provided by both Coles and Woolworths is the opportunity to recycle "soft" plastics, which until recently would go straight to landfill with no other option. "Soft" plastics include empty bread, cereal and frozen food bags, plastic and reusable shopping bags. Both of the major supermarket chains have partnered with RedCycle, with many stores now having drop off bins (see image below) for customers to place the "soft" plastics in for recycling. Through Coles alone in 2016 over 299 tonnes of "soft" plastics were returned by customers! To find your nearest store that offers the drop off bins head over to the RedCycle store locator site. Another great initiative adopted by Coles is the changing of the materials used to produced meat packaging. Since 2014 Coles has adopted the Plantic eco Plastic packaging for their store brand meats such as beef, pork, and lamb mince. The packaging is made from renewable corn and recyclable plastic material that is suitable to now be recycled even from home. The packaging offers many benefits, including using around half the energy of previous packaging production, and it is renewable and recyclable. Another one of my pet peeves with plastic waste, is the plastic water bottle. However, Coles again has stepped up to the plate to help tackle this issue. Coles natural spring water bottles are now made from recycled plastic, with estimates by Coles that this has saved approximately 1.9 million kgs of virgin plastic each year. There are many more great initiatives that local supermarket chains are doing to help reduce their impact on waste and to improve efficiency, why not head over to their respective sites and have a bit of a read. Also don't forget to check out your local store to see if they offer the option to recycle "soft" plastics, and if not, question why?!?!
0 Comments
|
AuthorMy name is Garry and I am extremely passionate about the environment. I have completed my BSc. Conservation and Wildlife Biology with First Class Honours and have worked in the Environment sector since 2009. Archives
October 2019
Categories |
Photos used under Creative Commons from Local Food Initiative, mitchell haindfield, everyoneisgone, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Takashi(aes256), ilyayakubovich.com