In a move that could be followed by other retailers, the company re-launched its “Food to Go” range of sandwiches, snacks and beverages using as much as 50% recycled plastic in the products' packaging.
” This is just the start for us, it's something we're really taking seriously, driven on by our customers.“
– Katie Stafford, Marks and Spencer
It is the first time that recycled PET has been used in such a high-profile, high-volume product line in the UK, and the company said the six-month trial will involve marketing and consumer research to evaluate its effectiveness.
Plastic bottles used in the “food to go” range now include between 30% and 50% recycled PET, which the company says initially will see the use of 1,700 tonnes of recycled plastic each year.
M&S; has received government funding to carry out trials on the recycled packaging – through the Waste and Resources Action Programme – and has been working with London Remade and Australian-owned recycling company Visy Closed Loop to develop the recycled packaging.
Quality
Previously, it has been difficult to use recycled materials to make new packaging for food products because of the need for high-quality materials to rule out possible contamination. But, London Remade is now hoping to establish a food-grade packaging recycling plant in Dagenham, working with Visy (see letsrecycle.com story).
The decision to use recycled packaging comes as early justification of waste awareness work – the actions of M&S; came about after the company surveyed its customers to find ways of improving their food business.
Katie Stafford, sustainable development manager for M&S;, explained: “When we did our customer research the big thing everybody said was 'I hate all this packaging – what are you doing to cut down on it?' So we talked to our customers and to find out what they wanted us to do.”
Minimisation
At a London Remade event last night – one of 400 events within London Sustainability Weeks – M&S; also revealed it has mounted a programme of waste minimisation for its packaging.
Life cycle analysis research has shown in which products a reduction in packaging would be most effective, and careful design has led to reductions in material use including the cutting of 1,200 tonnes of non-recyclable plastic each year from sandwich containers.
Benefits
Ms Stafford said the sustainability, cost-saving and public relations benefits of such actions would mean other retailers are likely to follow suit. WRAP itself is already working with Coca Cola and pharmacy chain Boots on similar projects. But, there is also still more that M&S; itself can do.
Ms Stafford said: “This is just the start for us, it's something we're really taking seriously, driven on by our customers.” She told letsrecycle.com the company's aim was to extend recycled packaging into other products, and as well as recycled plastic M&S; was attempting to increase their use of recycled board beyond the approximately 3,000 tonnes out of 20,000 tonnes currently used.
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Dr Liz Goodwin, director of materials for WRAP, said: “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,” Dr Goodwin added.
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