Leading British supermarkets and their customers have effectively halved the number of carrier bags handed out since 2006. Having achieved a cut in bag numbers of 26 per cent by the end of 2008 (compared with 2006 figures), supermarket customers have made incredible progress and extended this to a 48 per cent reduction in England in just a further five months. Comparing May 2006 to May 2009, 346 million fewer bags were used by customers in that one month alone. The new figures, announced today by... ...Read more »

The Local Government Association (LGA) should stop “carping” and start “collaborating” on reducing the amount of supermarket packaging going to landfill, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) told just-food overnight.The LGA on Saturday (11 July) called for the government to force UK supermarkets to reveal how much packaging they produce. The association said only M&S, Waitrose and Morrisons revealed details about how much packaging they produce, while Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s... ...Read more »

A series of industry trials exploring the benefits of reusable packaging could signal a step-change in the retail environment as we know it, according to UK-based WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). Working in collaboration with British retail and supply chain partners such as supermarket operator Asda, WRAP plans to explore how reusable and refillable systems have the potential to help the retail supply chain significantly reduce packaging and product damage, save on costs and increase... ...Read more »

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has announced the latest glass savings of over 20,000 tonnes from its pioneering GlassRite Wine project. Based in the UK, the project involves working with the entire international wine supply chain to deliver major environmental and commercial benefits.The new data also shows that since its inception in 2006 the project, which is collaborating with producers, brand owners, agents, bottle manufacturers and fillers and retailers around the globe, has increased... ...Read more »

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has recently begun a scoping project with the aim of enabling retailers and brands to use recycled polypropylene plastic in food packaging.Polypropylene is regularly recycled into industry plastics application (such as buckets and pallets) but, until now, recycling it into food grade packaging has not been possible. WRAP has commissioned Axion Consulting, in partnership with Greenstar WES, Fraunhofer IVV and Pira Consulting, to undertake the scoping study... ...Read more »

Businesses in the grocery supply chain can increase their competitive edge and reap other benefits by showcasing their approaches to sustainable packaging through an international study launched by UK-based WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). The project, which is being managed on WRAP’s behalf by PEC Partnership Ltd, seeks to promote best practice in the grocery and home improvement sectors by demonstrating innovative technologies and cutting-edge systems aimed at reducing product,... ...Read more »

New figures released by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) have highlighted the steady progress UK’s leading high street and grocery retailers have made in the quest to reduce plastic bag use – an environmental issue that has been a major talking point around the world in recent years. UK’s retailers managed to exceed a voluntary target to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008. Since 2006, retailers have delivered a 40% reduction in... ...Read more »

Britain’s leading supermarkets have agreed to a 50 per cent reduction in the number of carrier bags given out by spring next year. The government agreement with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) covers seven of Britain’s major supermarket chains. The reduction will be compared to the base year of 2006 when around 13 billion bags were used by consumers in the UK. The number of bags saved by spring next year, if the target is met, through this agreement would fill 60 Olympic-sized swimming... ...Read more »

As the global trend towards bulk wine exportation and the use of lighter weight bottles continues to grow, a groundbreaking cross-industry project led by UK government-funded WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) is seeking partners from Australia and New Zealand, who are involved in supplying wine to the UK, to take part in this new global initiative. The project has already achieved considerable cost and environmental benefits across the UK market. With the UK currently representing the... ...Read more »

Research and development work into boosting the recyclability of plastic milk bottles is to be launched by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).WRAP is inviting tenders to develop a cost-effective label, ink and adhesive system for use on HDPE milk bottles that will not contaminate the plastic during recycling, with the aim of encouraging its greater use in new bottle manufacture. WRAP’s target is for 50% of the milk industry’s capacity to commit to implementing the new system... ...Read more »