Tesco Ireland has announced its plans to roll out fully recyclable detectable black plastic trays packaging, on over 100 individual own-label products before the end of December this year.
The retailer made the announcement at its recent national supplier briefing which was attended by over 300 of its own-label and branded suppliers.
“Our target is to ensure we never use more packaging than is needed," Kari Daniels, chief executive officer, Tesco Ireland, highlighted.
The group outlined that it has launched fully recyclable packaging across a suite of its own-label meat, chilled ready meals and fresh produce lines.
"Where we need packaging, because it serves a clear purpose like reducing food waste or to protect a product in transit, we do our best to ensure that what we do use is from sustainable sources and where possible, goes on to be reused or recycled," Daniels explained.
Detectable
'Pigment changes in this Tesco packaging, which involves infra-red detectability in black plastic trays used for meat and other products, will mean 448 tonnes of plastic can now be recycled', it explained.
The retailer said that Ireland’s waste plants have the technology to detect the pigment.
Up to now, all black plastic trays reportedly have been non-detectable in recycling plants which limited the volumes that could be captured for recycling.
Changes made in the packaging manufacturing process to include a detectable pigment will now mean that once placed clean, dry and loose into the household recycling bin, these products are more readily recyclable at waste plants.
To date, Hilton, provider of Tesco own label fresh meat and breakfast meats, has already moved to the detectable black trays which are now available on products in store.
The remaining suppliers aim to transition their roll out of detectable black plastic trays by the end of 2019.
“Partnering with our suppliers we’ve worked to harness new technological breakthroughs like this," added Daniels.
"Collaboration is helping us to meet our ambitious goals. "
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