The Co-op supermarket plans to
switch all of its own-brand water to 50% recycled plastic bottles in a move it
expects will present an “ethical dilemma” to customers.
The new bottles will have a
cloudier and greyer appearance than those that do not contain recycled plastic
and the Co-op said it accepted that they could test shoppers’ environmentally
conscious credentials.
The new bottles, which are 100% recyclable
and sourced in the UK, will be in stores later this year. The supermarket has
estimated that the change to all of its own-brand still, sparkling and flavored
water bottles will save almost 350 tons of plastic every year.
It has also said it plans to rid
its aisles of black and dark colored plastic by 2020 because it is harder to
detect by sorting machines due to its pigment and contaminates the recycling
stream, reducing the usefulness and value of the recovered materials.
Co-op Food’s chief executive, Jo
Whitfield, said: “Our customers expect us to respond to this challenge and help
them make more ethical choices, and we’re dedicated to doing just that.”
“Making these changes will also
create new uses for recycled materials which in turn gives our customers
greater confidence in recycling.”
Iain Ferguson, Co-op environment
manager, said: “Suppliers are working hard to make the bottle clearer and they
already have. In the meantime, our bottles will wear this greyish color which I
see a badge of honor – we are part of the market for recycled products and are
proud of that.”
The Co-op said it fully supported
government plans announced this week for a deposit return scheme to cut plastic
bottle waster
