Major Supermarket Chain Says It Will Ban Plastic Packaging By 2023
Iceland is a leading supermarket chain in the United Kingdom that specialises in frozen food.They recently announced that they will help end the “scourge” of plastic by banning all plastic packaging on their own-brand products within the next five years. The current plastic packaging will be replaced with paper and recycled pulp trays.
Richard Walker, Iceland’s managing director, said that the world had “woken up to the scourge of plastics.” Walker added that the onus was on retailers to take a stand and “deliver meaningful change.” He went on to say: “There really is no excuse any more for excessive packaging that creates needless waste and damages our environment. The technologies and practicalities to create less environmentally harmful alternatives exist, and so Iceland is putting a stake in the ground.” Walker also said that Iceland would make sure that all packaging would be recyclable through domestic waste collections and that they would also support bottle deposit return initiatives.
Greenpeace Executive Director John Sauven called the announcement a “bold pledge.” He added: “It’s now up to other retailers and food producers to respond to that challenge. The tidal wave of plastic pollution will only start to recede when they turn off the tap.”
Samantha Harding, from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “Iceland are steadfastly laying the path that all supermarkets should be following. Alongside its support for a deposit return system, Iceland’s commitment to go plastic-free by 2023 shows that powerful retailers can take decisive action to provide what their customers want, without the environment paying for it.”
Read more: France Becomes First Country To Ban Plastic Silverware, Plates and Cups
Image Credit: Flickr
Written by: Fattima Mahdi
Fattima Mahdi is a author, mentor, lyricist and professional roller-skater. She uses both her love for writing and music to address socio-political issues prevalent in society today. She is also the proud author of Love Don’t Come Easy. Read More stories by Fattima Mahdi
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