Marks & Spencer uses less recyclable food packaging than any of its main rivals, according to a report by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Research published today (23 October) revealed that 60% of M&S packaging was recyclable. Asda was the best-performing supermarket overall, with 70% of its packaging being recyclable
None of the supermarkets did as well as market traders, whose packaging was 79% recyclable. The report also found that up to 40% of packaging could not be recycled.
The LGA warned that all supermarkets needed to take urgent action to reduce packaging or Britain would fail to meet EU recycling targets.
The LGA commissioned the British Market Research Bureau to buy a range of 29 common food items from six supermarkets – Asda, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco – as well as a local high street shop and a large market.
The total weight of the products and the packaging was recorded, and the component parts of the packaging were weighed separately to measure the proportion of packaging that was recyclable or rubbish.
An average of five per cent of the total weight of the products bought for the study was made up of packaging, the LGA said.
Jane Bickerstaffe, director of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment, said this figure showed that packaging "saves more waste than it generates".
"But weight isn't the only measure of environmental impact – carbon footprint is also important. So too is using recycled content," she added.
Bickerstaffe said that if products were damaged or spoiled as a result of inadequate packaging, all the energy and materials in those products would be lost.
Research published today (23 October) revealed that 60% of M&S packaging was recyclable. Asda was the best-performing supermarket overall, with 70% of its packaging being recyclable
None of the supermarkets did as well as market traders, whose packaging was 79% recyclable. The report also found that up to 40% of packaging could not be recycled.
The LGA warned that all supermarkets needed to take urgent action to reduce packaging or Britain would fail to meet EU recycling targets.
The LGA commissioned the British Market Research Bureau to buy a range of 29 common food items from six supermarkets – Asda, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco – as well as a local high street shop and a large market.
The total weight of the products and the packaging was recorded, and the component parts of the packaging were weighed separately to measure the proportion of packaging that was recyclable or rubbish.
An average of five per cent of the total weight of the products bought for the study was made up of packaging, the LGA said.
Jane Bickerstaffe, director of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment, said this figure showed that packaging "saves more waste than it generates".
"But weight isn't the only measure of environmental impact – carbon footprint is also important. So too is using recycled content," she added.
Bickerstaffe said that if products were damaged or spoiled as a result of inadequate packaging, all the energy and materials in those products would be lost.
Source: packagingnews
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