Asda removes over 24.5 million plastic forks from salads in a bid to tackle plastic pollution
Asda removes over 24.5 million plastic forks from salads in a bid to tackle plastic pollution
June 18, 2020
Press Release: Asda
In-line with its ongoing commitment to ‘Use less and recycle more’, UK supermarket chain Asda has announced that it will be removing plastic forks from its salads and protein bowls
This move will result in the removal of over 24.5 million plastic forks each year across its own brand salads, which is the equivalent of 41 tonnes of plastic, the weight of around 55 cows!
As the warm summer weather approaches, salad lovers will be able to pick up their favorite fresh dishes at the same great price but without having to prioritize plastic reduction over their grocery decision-making, giving them even more choice when it comes to living sustainably.
“We are passionate about delivering our commitment to customers to use less and recycle more and this move marks the next step in our journey as we strive to commitment to reduce own-brand plastic packaging by 15% by 2021,” commented Kevin Patel, Asda’s director of Produce.
“We know that customers like the ease of picking up salads and fresh produce on the go, but we know they are passionate about the environment plastic pollution, which is why we have made the decision to remove plastic forks so our customers don’t have to choose between living sustainably and shopping with ease.”
In addition, Asda has also removed 21.6 tonnes of plastic from its Extra Special Asparagus range, by completely removing the plastic tray, saving 1.6 million trays a year. This move has meant that, in total, fresh produce has already had 256 tonnes of plastic removed in 2020.
Asda stepped-up on its bid to tackle plastic pollution toward the end of last year, committing to reducing own-brand plastic packaging by 15% by 2021 and, in addition, reaching 30% recycled content in its plastic packaging by the end of 2020, five years ahead of its original deadline.
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