The Group becomes the first British retailer to use recycled plastic (rPET), which will reduce CO2 emissions by 1,212 tonnes per annum. As well as being made from recycled plastic, the bottles are fully recyclable and can be collected and recycled alongside regular PET bottles.
The Group ultimately hopes to roll out rPET bottles across its entire own-brand beverage range where PET plastic bottles are used.
Debbie Robinson (pictured), Director of Food Retail Marketing at the Group, said: “Our members and customers have told us they want to see action on packaging, so we are delighted to be the first major retailer to roll out 100 per cent rPET bottles across our carbonated drinks and mixers range.
“This follows similar initiatives by The Co-operative, such as the launch of the world’s lightest whisky bottle and the introduction of ‘naked’ cucumbers last year, when our whole cucumbers were stripped of their plastic wrapping.”
The switch to rPET follows the launch of the society’s Food Ethical Policy earlier this year, based on the world’s largest consumer poll on ethics. Over 100,000 members and customers said action to safeguard the environment was one of their top priorities and 97 per cent endorsed the Group’s aim to reduce waste.
The Group is also rolling out a new lightweight glass for its own-brand ales range, which will save 131.5 tonnes of glass and 90 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. The initiative will be complete by the end of September.
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