Morrisons is aiming to eliminate all problematic plastic, as defined by the UK Plastic Pact, by 2025.
So far (as of 2022), the retailer has reduced plastic packaging by 17.5% from its 2017 baseline.
The Plastic Pact outlines plastic wrapping for multi-sales of tines, bottles and cartons, PVC cling film, non-compostable fruit and vegetable stickers, single serving plastic sachets, plastic packaging for uncut fresh fruit and vegetable.
Morrisons has so far removed 31.2 million single use pieces of cutlery across its salad bars and food to go sections, as well as 80 million plastic straws from its cafés, boxes of straw and cartons, as well as 331 million tea bags which have been replaced by plant-based materials for all its own brand tea.
The supermarket is aiming for a 50% reduction in own brand primary plastic packaging by 2025 versus 2017.
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The supermarket also plans for its own brand packaging to be 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025, and aims to achieve an average of 30% recycled content across all own brand primary plastic packaging by 2025, and has signed the Plastics Pact by 2025.
Initiatives already carried out by the supermarket include extending the range of plastic-free loose fruit and vegetables in over 300 of its 497 stores, and replacing its plastic bag with a “bag for life”.
The grocer has also taken part in a podback scheme, which sees householders and retailers able to recycle their coffee pods.
Fellow retailer Tesco has also called for policy change in order to help achieve plastic reduction, while Lidl reported reducing food waste by almost half since 2016.
