Five deposit return schemes (DRS) will also be rolled out, Sainsbury’s said, where customers recycle plastic bottles in exchange for a 5p per item coupon towards their shopping.
Sainsbury’s outlined a series of pledges last month to increase recycling and reduce food waste, as part of a £1 billion fund to be carbon neutral by 2040.The company explained that it will use the money to implement a programme of changes, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions, food waste, plastic packaging, water usage and “increasing recycling”.
Sainsbury’s said it will invest in ‘increasing recycling’ as part of its carbon neutral pledge (picture: Shutterstock)Mike Coupe, CEO of Sainsbury’s, said: “Our commitment has always been to help customers live well for less, but we must recognise that living well now also means living sustainably.”Recycling
Among the pledges, Sainsbury’s says it will “increase the use of recycling in its own operations and make it easier for customers and colleagues to recycle”.This includes providing facilities to help customers recycle metal cans, glass, plastic, paper and other materials in 275 stores nationwide as well as “repurposing 5,000 tonnes of clothing annually through its donation banks in 340 stores and carparks”.Five deposit return schemes (DRS) will also be rolled out, Sainsbury’s said, where customers recycle plastic bottles in exchange for a 5p per item coupon towards their shopping.Sainsbury’s will also “recycle more operational waste and continue to expand and provide facilities”.Food waste
The company said it is committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030, and it has developed “innovative packaging and clearer labelling” to increase the shelf life of products.Sainsbury’s also claimed that it has sent no food to landfill since 2013 and has 2,093 food donation programmes in place across supermarkets and convenience stores, ensuring that 87% of Sainsbury’s stores redistribute food to good causes locally.The retailer also pledged today that it will increase the amount of food it redistributes, and will talk to customers more about how they can reduce food waste at home.The statement today also included a comment from COP26 President-Designate Claire O’Neill, who said: “It’s fantastic to see Sainsbury’s committing to hitting net zero by 2040. It’s vital that big organisations recognise the responsibility they have in curbing emissions.“Today’s announcement is an outstanding example that being green shouldn’t be a barrier to success. I hope to see other major supermarkets following their lead ahead of the COP26 UN climate conference later this year in Glasgow.”Previous commitments to reduce packaging were also outlined, including aims to halve plastic packaging by 2025 and phase out hard-to-recycle packaging from its own brand ranges.
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