Co-op to focus on reducing plastic waste

Monday 01 October 2018

The CI Co-op is focussing on reducing plastic waste, having set up a 'plastic working group', introduced 'recyclable' shopping trollies, and made plans to ditch single-use plastic carrier bags.

The new shopping trollies, which are made out of recyclable plastics with recyclable wheels and handles, have so far rolled into the Co-op stores in St. Brelade and Charing Cross.

The move comes after the CI Co-Op set up ‘plastic working group’ to continue to reduce the use of plastic across its stores.

As part of this work, the society has signed up to Plastic Free Jersey’s Business Toolkit, which tackles plastic pollution and the problems caused by single-use plastic. The initiative requires businesses to remove at least three single-use plastic items.

The three action points the Society has committed to include:

• phasing out the use of 5p single-use carrier bags, which won't be available after 31 December 2018. 'Bags for Life,' which are made from 80% recycled PCW (post-consumer waste) will still be available at all stores.
• Aiming to make own brand water bottles 100% recyclable by 2022. 
• Encouraging branded supplies to be 100% recyclable by 2025. 

Jane Burns, Eco Active’s Programme Manager, said: "We are delighted that the Co-op has taken on our Plastic Free Jersey initiative. We aim to reduce plastic waste, save money and reduce our island’s carbon footprint.

"In Jersey, we generate more than one tonne of rubbish per person each year, therefore we are encouraging our local community to reduce plastic use and consider alternatives. With support from businesses such as the Co-op, we hope to make a real difference to the environment around us."

Mark Cox, the CI Co-Op Chief Operating Officer, said: "As a community retailer, we are committed to protecting and preserving our beautiful Channel Island environments. At the Co-op, we have a target for 80% of our products to be more environmentally friendly by 2020. We believe that these small changes within our business will have a significant and positive impact to our environment in the long-term and bring us closer to achieving our goals.

"Alongside this, we are working with our local suppliers to encourage best practice with their produce and the materials they use as packaging. Customers will notice over the coming months that the remaining few brands who still use black or brown plastic will have moved to using PET containers which can be widely recycled."