UK supermarkets say ho-ho-no to Christmas plastics packaging, environmentalists react
23 Dec 2020 --- Limited edition Christmas packaging is keeping the spirit of the holiday alive this year while lockdown restrictions prevent large-scale gatherings with family and friends.
However, boosted holiday sales mean more packaging waste. UK retailers including Tesco, Asda and Morrisons are addressing consumers’ anti-waste sentiment by launching plastic-free Christmas ranges.
Continuing its holiday coverage, PackagingInsights looks into retailers’ different interpretations of waste reduction – and how environmental not-for-profits Zero Waste Scotland and Break Free From Plastic assess their efforts.
“For businesses, switching to packaging-free and reduced-packaging – and making that packaging 100 percent recyclable – is better for the planet and is to be welcomed,” says Iain Gulland, CEO of Zero Waste Scotland.
“But there’s so much more they can do in terms of transforming our relationship with the products and services we consume than simply changing the packaging they come in.”
Asda’s Christmas range features glitter-free cards, wrap and gift-bags, previously containing small plastic particles.A “greener” Christmas
A string of UK supermarket chains have eliminated single-use plastic and other polluting materials from their limited edition Christmas product ranges.
Tesco has removed over 20 million pieces of plastic from this year’s Christmas range. Packaging for crackers, lights, cards and puddings have all been produced using less single-use plastic, cutting over 14 million pieces of plastic from the seasonal range.
Instead, 312,000 Christmas lights are sold in recyclable cardboard packaging and multipacks of greeting cards are now sold in a recyclable cardboard box, saving 4.6 million pieces of plastic a year.
Asda’s “first sustainable Christmas range” aims to save 66 tons of plastic this year by introducing glitter-free cards, wrap and gift-bags, which contained small particles of plastic in previous years.
This year, customers will also be able to purchase a 12-pack of festive crackers in packaging made from fully recyclable content, including the gift inside. In addition, Asda is selling a range of recyclable gift bags and hanging decorations.
Morrisons has removed glitter completely across all its own-brand ranges. Christmas crackers are now 100 percent plastic-free as traditional disposable toys have been removed. All cards, wrapping paper and cracker shells and packaging are also fully recyclable at curbside.
Reuse over reduce
For Zero Waste Scotland, it’s “heartening” to see producers and retailers take action to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging.
“However, 80 percent of Scotland’s carbon emissions come from the goods, materials and services we produce, use and throw away. It’s clear that there’s much more to be done,” comments Gulland.
Seriously reducing single-use packaging during the holidays is a small step in the right direction, echoes Estelle Eonnet, European communications officer at Break Free From Plastic, but putting reusable systems in place is “the real solution.”
Tesco’s own label crackers are plastic-free for the first time and now sold without plastic in cardboard packaging.“Consumers need to take stock of the terrible health and environmental impact single-use packaging has and demand that corporations put real solutions in place. Corporations need to offer consumers reusable alternatives to single-use plastic.”
The pressure for more reusable systems in supermarkets spurred reusable trial projects at Asda and Tesco this year. Unilever launched a product refill trial in a single UK-based Asda supermarket in October. Meanwhile, Tesco got onboard with Loop’s reusable packaging project in the UK.
Morrisons also recalled its plastic checkout bags, coined “bags for life” – which were meant to be reused by consumers.
To build on these initiatives, Eonnet at Break Free from Plastic concludes that consistent accountability is needed. “Companies need to take full responsibility for the plastic pollution that they create, not only during the holiday season but every day of the year.”
By Anni Schleicher
