Morrisons launches new product labels asking customers to recycle packaging in store
MORRISONS has launched new product labels asking customers to recycle, reuse or recycle packaging in store.
Hundreds of products now contain advice on how the packaging can be recycled and even encourage customers to bring recyclable plastic packaging, which is not widely taken at kerbside, back to its stores.
The supermarket plans to eliminate all packaging that isn't recyclable, reusable or compostable from its own brand goods in the next five years.
The scheme, which features 400 products, focusses on front-of-pack icons advising customers on how the packaging can be recycled.
It will also see Morrisons invite customers to bring recyclable plastic packaging, which is not widely taken at kerbside, back to all its stores.
Morrisons packaging manager Natasha Cook said: “Our customers tell us they want us to reduce packaging, and where we can't remove it they want to recycle it.
"So we are putting clear icons on the front of 400 popular purchases - and inviting customers to bring back packaging they can't recycle at home."
'RECYCLE', 'REUSE' & 'RECYCLE IN STORE'
The new labels read: 'recycle in store', 'please recycle me' and 'please reuse me'.
For all items that can be recycled at home, such as plastic milk and drink bottles, customers are encouraged to recycle packaging.
For packaging on items such as bread and potatoes, a 'Recycle Me In Store' icon urges customers to recycle at provided bins.
These hard to recycle items are not widely taken at the kerbside but will be accepted by Morrisons new large recycling bins positioned at the front of all of its stores.
The labels also give details on all of the packaging components used on the back of the pack – clarifying what can be recycled and where.
Currently, each local UK authority has its own regime for deciding what packaging it is prepared to accept.
Morrisons has also said they will recycle packaging into things like carrier bags and bin bags.
The initiative comes as new research shows that two thirds of customers are not confident whether they can recycle some plastics - including fruit and veg bags, plastic wrap around toilet rolls and plastic bread bags.
The research also found that consumers are more likely to recycle if there is a simple and clear message on the front of packaging.
Another study found that nearly half the packaging used by major supermarkets cannot be easily recycled.
Researchers looked into the wrapping of 46 of the most popular items from British supermarkets.
The worst was Morrisons. Many of its items came with non-recyclable plastic film, so it had the most packaging that could not be easily recycled — at 61 per cent.
The Co-op was close behind, at 58 per cent.
Tesco and Waitrose were the best performers, with just 40 per cent of their packaging hard to recycle.
Overall, 52 per cent of supermarket packaging could be put into household recycling bins with ease.
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