George George Idowu
For several years, UK shoppers have been able to drop off soft plastic packaging at supermarket collection points, as these materials cannot be recycled through household waste systems. The recycling programs offered by major retailers like Sainsbury’s and Tesco have been seen as a positive step towards reducing waste.
However, a recent investigation by campaign groups Everyday Plastic and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reveals a more complex and troubling reality behind these schemes.
The investigation involved placing Apple tracking devices in 40 bundles of plastic packaging, which were then dropped off at Sainsbury’s and Tesco collection points across England. Tracking the movement of these packages from July 2023 to February 2024, the groups discovered that the plastic bundles collectively traveled more than 25,000 kilometers across the UK and overseas.
The investigation found that out of the bundles that reached a known final destination, a significant portion were not recycled as consumers may have expected. Seven bundles were converted into fuel pellets, commonly used in industries like cement kilns, while five were burned for energy. Four bundles were down cycled into lower-value plastic products overseas, mostly in Turkey, with just one package being down cycled within the UK. The study revealed that 70% of the bundles that reached a destination were incinerated for energy, not recycled.
The results highlight a significant gap between consumer expectations and the reality of what happens to plastic waste. The supermarket collection schemes have allowed retailers like Sainsbury’s and Tesco to claim progress toward their voluntary packaging recyclability targets, and product packaging has increasingly been labeled with instructions to recycle soft plastics at large supermarkets.
However, the UK’s recycling infrastructure is not equipped to handle post-consumer soft plastic waste at the necessary scale.
According to Alison Colclough, research director at Everyday Plastic, the investigation exposes a harsh truth about these supermarket recycling programs. “The take-back schemes are being presented as a solution, which is diverting attention from the main issue that can’t be overlooked: far too much unnecessary plastic packaging is being produced,” she said.
Lauren Weir, senior ocean campaigner at the EIA, emphasized the environmental consequences of exporting plastic waste.
“Other countries should not bear the burden of the UK’s high production rate of this waste material and inability to effectively treat it domestically,” she stated.
The findings come as global discussions continue on the UN Global Plastics Treaty, which faces divisions over proposed production controls. The campaign groups are urging the UK government to support a 40% reduction in global plastic production by 2040.
The investigation also raises concerns about misleading environmental claims. ClientEarth, a non-governmental organization, issued a legal briefing with the report, accusing supermarkets and packaging companies of green washing through product labels, signage, and online content that mislead consumers about the environmental impact of soft plastic recycling.
Katie-Scarlett Wetherall, a lawyer at ClientEarth, warned that businesses must clearly communicate when products have a negative environmental impact.
Helen Bird, head of materials systems transformation at the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap), acknowledged the complexity of the situation.
She noted that while supermarket collection points are not perfect, they have played a crucial role in fostering new habits among consumers and catalyzing investment in UK recycling infrastructure. However, she stressed that more transparency is needed to build public confidence in the system.
Both Sainsbury’s and Tesco responded to the investigation’s findings by reiterating their commitment to improving recycling efforts. Sainsbury’s noted that while it collects a relatively small volume of flexible plastic, most of it is in good condition and can be recycled. Tesco admitted that a supplier error had resulted in some materials being sent to Turkey, which should not have occurred under their guidelines.
As the UK struggles to develop adequate infrastructure for soft plastic recycling, the investigation underscores the need for systemic change in the production and disposal of plastic packaging. Until then, consumers are left grappling with a recycling system that promises more than it can currently deliver.