Tesco Ireland and indigenous manufacturing companies Green Generation and Paltech have recently unveiled their flower planters, made of 100% recycled soft plastic.
According to the retailer, the new heavyweight pots have an impressive durability and a long lifespan, weighing 7kg each, and they can be further recycled at their end of lifespan, through Paltech’s unique process.
Each planter can be used to grow garden plants and flowers, and, in turn, improve biodiversity.
Joe Manning, the commercial director of Tesco Ireland, said, “When it comes to plastic, our priority remains to remove it where we can, or reduce its use on our products when we can’t remove it completely. Where it serves a purpose, such as protecting a product or preventing food waste, we are working hard to ensure that the packaging material is recyclable for consumers, and can go on to be used again.
“Bringing these flowerpots to the market – made entirely from end-of-life waste soft plastic – is an important step in creating a closed-loop solution for plastic at this time.”
Repurposed
Using Paltech-patented technology, these waste soft plastics can be repurposed into construction materials that, in turn, have the scope to be used in the Tesco Ireland network for new stores, and in store maintenance and refits – including buildings, car park barriers, and signage – in the near future.
Paul Costello, the director of Green Generation, commented, “We continue to work with our engineers to improve our innovative system for long-life products, to support the country’s ambition in reaching the EU recycling commitment of 55% of all packaging waste to be recycled by 2030.”
New Facility
The Kildare company recently commissioned a new €2 million facility in Clara, Co. Offaly, to manufacture recycled plastic products, including flowerpots.
Tesco noted that the facility, which employs 15 people, will recycle an estimated 70 tonnes of customer waste plastic, to create 10,000 plant pots over the coming months.
Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, said, “This is a good example of the circular economy in action. I welcome the investment in Clara and the new jobs it brings.
“It is a tangible example of waste plastic being recycled into useful products. I hope as many shoppers as possible will think about how they can recycle their plastic waste. This offers an opportunity to do that at the point of sale.”
The recycled plastic pots are currently available for sale in 76 Tesco stores and retail at €25.
They will be available for sale throughout the spring/summer season.
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