Tesco rejects compostable packaging as UK collection remains limited

12 Mar 2020 --- British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer Tesco has released its Packaging Preferred Materials & Formats Guidelines 2020 with one notable absentee from its preferred materials list: compostable and biodegradable packaging. Tesco highlights “very limited collection in the UK for compostable packaging” as the rationale for this decision. The supermarket giant’s preferred packaging includes easily-separable cardboard with plastics with a maximum 15 percent plastic content and mono lidding film matched to tray material when permanently attached.

“There is very limited collection in the UK for compostable packaging and so customers would either contaminate their recycling stream or have to dispose of it in their general waste. If compostable packaging is sent to landfill, it will compost without oxygen and produce methane, one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases,” states Tesco.

However, Tesco considers items such as tea bags, caddy liners and coffee pods as products rather than packaging and is supportive of these products being compostable.

“We are removing all unnecessary and non-recyclable materials from our packaging and will remove one billion pieces of plastic from our products in UK stores. To help us reach these targets we have reviewed the materials used in our packaging and have developed a preferred material list,” a Tesco spokesperson tells PackagingInsights.

Tesco has employed a traffic light rating system for its preferred packaging list:

• Green: Preferred for UK recycling via kerbside or store.
• Amber: When functional requirements mean green materials are not an option.
• Red: Not to be used as customers cannot easily recycle.

Tesco’s preferred materials for rigid packaging are glass (clear or of light color), PET, HDPE/LDPE, PP, steel and aluminum and cardboard. For flexible packaging, the preferred materials are paper, glassine and PE (recyclable at the front of Tesco stores).

On the Red list, Tesco includes compostable and biodegradable materials, PLA, Polystyrene, PVC and water-soluble plastics. For formats and designs, composite drums, expanded or foamed density modified plastics, paper and board coated or laminated on both sides and glitter are discouraged. Likewise, black plastic is not preferred, although brands may choose to use black plastic for drink bottle caps.

Compostable considerations
Tesco’s concerns about the limited UK composting infrastructure is well supported. For example, Libby Peake, Senior Policy Advisor at Green Alliance likewise voiced concerns that compostable packaging could end up contaminating conventional plastic recycling streams.

“We would like to see more strategic direction from the government. Plant-based compostable packaging can offer improvements to the current system but only if they are introduced systematically and avoid damaging the conventional plastic lines or vice versa,” Peake tells PackagingInsights.

“There needs to be a systemic approach that keeps them separate. Without any clear guidance, assurances or regulations from the government about what can be placed on the market and where a confused picture is developing. This is especially true in the case of takeaways introducing PLA and other plant-based materials, thinking that it’s automatically going to better but without the infrastructure and public education, it's creating confusion that could be prevented if the government was more interventionist.”

A recent UK poll found that 86 percent of the UK MPs recognized a need to invest more in infrastructure to facilitate compostables at end of life. Meanwhile, 98 of the 100 surveyed UK government MPs agree that “compostable packaging alternatives can be part of the solution to the plastic crisis,” with just 1 percent disagreeing and 1 percent undecided.

In February, leader of the UK Plastics Pact WRAP released new guidance to address confusion over compostable plastic packaging. WRAP stated that compostable plastics could be particularly useful for flexible packaging which contains food residue, such as tea bags and fruit and vegetable stickers.

WRAP limited its support for rigid compostable packaging to ready meal trays and “closed system” events using items like cups. The organization also called for clearer consumer labeling and, like Tesco, urged the avoidance of compostable plastics where there is potential for them to contaminate conventional plastics recycling.

NPD in compostable packaging, particularly home-compostable packaging, is experiencing some notable breakthroughs. In February, major bioplastics players BASF and Novamont both launched compostable cling film solutions for fresh food. Also, Camvac recently launched Cambrite Camvert, a fully biodegradable and home-compostable decorative metalized film. 

New research by Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands, found that compostable packaging products certified standard EN 13432 can disintegrate within a maximum of 22 days together with biowaste in a full-scale industrial organic waste treatment facility. The speed of disintegration was found to be faster than orange skins and banana peels.

Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Tesco’s 4Rs strategy – Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - means it will remove non-recyclable and excess packaging from its business. Where it can’t be removed, for example where it prevents food waste, Tesco will work with its suppliers to reduce it to an absolute minimum. The retailer will explore new opportunities to reuse its packaging and ensure that anything left is all recycled as part of a closed-loop. If packaging can’t be recycled, it will have no place at Tesco, the company indicates.

“Our work to remove, reduce, reuse and recycle is already transforming our packaging. Over the next twelve months, we will remove one billion pieces of plastic, further reducing the environmental impact of the products we sell. By focusing on solutions that we can apply across all our UK stores and supply chain, we can make a significant difference and achieve real scale in our efforts to tackle plastic,” explains Dave Lewis, CEO of Tesco.

By Joshua Poole