
A new collaboration between Recoup (Recycling of Used Plastics Limited) members, Tesco PLC and Eurokey Recycling Ltd., all based in the United Kingdom, is recycling scrap plastic into single-use carrier bags made from 100 percent recycled low density polyethylene (LDPE).
Under the program, retailer Tesco is collecting its plastic scrap, such as pallet and multipack wrapping, for recycling into the bags, which are made by Papier-Mettler, headquartered in Germany.
Recoup reports that the bags are made from 80 percent postconsumer plastic materials, while 20 percent is plastic production scrap.
The bags will be available through Tesco stores in October of 2015.
“We are extremely proud to work with these suppliers to turn plastics from our business generated waste into our single use carrier bags. We believe that recycling materials back into products makes sense for the industry and the environment,” comments Robin Hughes, procurement manager at Tesco.
The material is collected by Eurokey which sorts the plastics at their facility in Eastern Europe to prepare the LDPE for reprocessing.
The plastics are processed and granulated at the Papier-Mettler facility in Morbach, Germany, and the granulated recycled LDPE is used to produce Tesco single-use carrier bags.
Marcus Gover, director of the U.K.-based Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) says of the project, “Tesco’s move to include postconsumer plastic waste in their new carrier bags is a positive and welcome step. Tesco shoppers will now be able to appreciate first-hand the potential for recycled plastic and it will help reinforce a positive recycling message.”
John Dhillon, managing director at Eurokey Recycling comments, “We are very pleased to be part of a sustainable and ethical plastic recycling solution in line with the Tesco Corporate Social Responsibility ideals.”
The project, which has been running successfully for some months, according to Recoup, is expected to continue as a long-term viable solution.
Bill Aldridge, U.K. Sales Manager of Papier-Mettler says, “We are delighted to be working with Tesco to achieve optimal solutions regarding green packaging. As a result, Tesco not only offers carrier bags made of postconsumer recycled material, they have now gone one step further. By closing the material loop, Tesco carrier bags are now produced using their own plastic waste. An ideal situation for Tesco, Tesco`s customers and the environment.”
Stuart Foster, CEO of Recoup, observes, “it is a perfect example of how joined-up actions between the supply and recycling chain can deliver efficient recycling of plastic resources in a transparent way. A true plastics recycling success story and an example for others to follow.”
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