One-third of plastic packaging not widely recyclable

Up to a third of plastic packaging used by supermarkets across the UK is either ‘non-recyclable’ or difficult to salvage, a snapshot investigation by Which? has uncovered.

The research also found “huge inconsistencies” in the way products are labelled, with some items featuring incorrect recycling information, and others displaying no guidance at all.

This is despite the government pledging zero avoidable waste by the end of 2042, with Which? now calling for a roll out of compulsory labelling on all plastic packaging and simplified recycling information.

“A lot more can be done to increase the amount of recyclable packaging and the way it is labelled so consumers know what can be recycled and how to recycle it,” Which? director of research and publishing, Nikki Stopford, commented.

After analysing packaging of 27 everyday own-brand items at 10 major supermarkets, it was found that Lidl had the lowest proportion of widely recyclable materials at 71%.

Iceland was not far behind on 73%, with Ocado and Sainsbury’s also close to the bottom of the pile on 74% and 75% respectively, while Morrisons was the top performer on 81%.

The investigation also found that between 4% and 10% of packaging can only be recycled at collection points or supermarket ‘bring banks’, rather than on the side of roads.

This is despite a separate survey finding that fewer than one in ten shoppers always or often take packaging back to a supermarket to be recycled.

One Which? expert said they thought some products – M&S and Waitrose apples for example – were labelled as non-recyclable when they were actually salvageable at supermarket bring banks.

It was also found that some groceries had non-recyclable packaging no matter where they came from, such as easy-peel oranges, while others had labels that were only visible once unwrapped.

“The plastic pollution crisis makes it more crucial than ever that the government, manufacturers and supermarkets do the best they can to banish plastic that cannot be recycled and promote less damaging packaging,” Stopford added.

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