Checking out on plastics A survey of UK supermarkets’ plastic habits ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABOUT EIA ABOUT GREENPEACE CONTENTS We investigate and campaign against Greenpeace defends the natural We would like to thank The Network ©EIAimage 1. Executive summary 4 environmental crime and abuse. world and promotes peace by for Social Change, Susie Hewson- investigating, exposing and Lowe and Julia Davies. Our undercover investigations 2. Introduction 5 confronting environmental abuse expose transnational wildlife crime, We would would also like like to to thank thank our ABOUT EIA EIAand championingUK responsible with a focus on elephants, pangolins 3. Impacts of plastics on the environment and society 6 numerous other supporters whose 62-63solutions Upper for Street, our fragile Ximporae. Ut aut fugitis resti ut atia andWe investigate tigers, and and forest campaign crimes suchagainst long-term commitment to our Londonenvironment. N1 0NY UK nobit ium alici bla cone consequam asenvironmental illegal logging crime and and deforestation abuse. 4. Methodology 8 organisation’s mission and values T: +44 (0) 20 7354 7960 cus aci oditaquates dolorem volla for cash crops like palm oil. We helped make this work possible. Our undercover investigations E: [email protected] vendam, consequo molor sin net work to safeguard global marine Greenpeace, Canonbury Villas, London N1 5. Results of scorecard ranking 9 expose transnational wildlife crime, eia-international.org fugitatur, qui int que nihic tem ecosystems by addressing the 2PN, UK with a focus on elephants and asped quei oditaquates dolorem threats posed by plastic pollution, T: + 44 (0) 20 7865 8100 6. Summary of survey responses tigers, and forest crimes such as volla vendam, conseqci oditaquates bycatch and commercial EIAE: [email protected] US illegal logging and deforestation for dolorem volla vendam, consequo exploitation of whales, dolphins POgreenpeace.org.uk Box 53343 6.1 Single-use plastic packaging 10 cash crops like palm oil. We work to molor sin net fugitatur, qui int que and porpoises. Finally, we reduce Washington DC 20009 USA safeguard global marine ecosystems nihic tem asped quei oditaquates the impact of climate change by T: +1 202 483 6621 6.2 Item specific actions and initiatives 16 by addressing the threats posed dolorem volla vendam, consuo molor campaigning to eliminate powerful E: [email protected] by plastic pollution, bycatch sin net fugitatur, qui int que nihic refrigerant greenhouse gases, eia-global.org 6.3 Supply chains 18 and commercial exploitation of tem asped que n nes ape verrovid exposing related illicit trade and whales, dolphins and porpoises. maximolorera doles magni tet ea improving energy efficiency in the Environmental Investigation Agency 6.4 Customer, staff and policy engagement 22 Finally, we reduce the impact of voluptas enis as de evel ipsam cooling sector. (UK) Ltd. Company Number: 7752350 climate change by campaigning dolendit, voluptam endusci psunto VAT Number: 440569842. Registered 7. Conclusions 24 to eliminate powerful refrigerant quibusandit, sitaque enture 62-63 Upper Street, London N1 0NY UK in England and Wales greenhouse gases, exposing related T: +44 (0) 20 7354 7960 8. Recommendations 25 illicit trade and improving energy E: [email protected] efficiency in the cooling sector. eia-international.org 9. References 26 2 Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace Checking out on plastics 3 1. Executive summary 2. Introduction Plastic from supermarket shelves represents a huge proportion of the total amount flooding onto the UK market Unprecedented growth in the production and sale Occupying a pivotal position at the centre of the value each year – with even more of the material used before we place an item in our basket. Behind the scenes, plastic of plastics is triggering disastrous environmental chain, grocery retailers have a critical role to play in is endemic throughout the grocery supply chain: from the fields of plastic polytunnels used to grow fruit and consequences. Plastic production has increased transforming society’s approach to plastics. Not only vegetables through to the packaging used in transportation. All this comes at a huge environmental and social twentyfold in the past half-century and is expected to can they enable consumers to reduce their plastic cost which we are just beginning to understand. It doesn’t have to be like this. double again in the next 20 years.1 Each year, up to 12 footprint, but they can demonstrate leadership in million tonnes of plastics leak into the oceans. This will reducing their own brand plastic footprint and also Located at the interface between consumers and suppliers, grocery retailers occupy an almost unique position to quadruple by 2050 unless significant sectoral changes engage with brands and suppliers, influencing practices lead the transition away from a single-use society by substantially reducing their plastic footprints and supporting are implemented.2 Microplastics (small plastic pieces further up the value chain. Their power to impact brands and customers to do the same. less than 5mm in size) have been documented in all consumer behaviour was seen with the recent 80% marine habitats – from the ocean surface and sea ice to reduction in plastic bags following the introduction of In this report, the Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace UK present the findings of the most the seabed – and can be ingested by species throughout the 5p charge.12 This has already reduced the number comprehensive survey to date on how supermarkets are addressing plastic pollution. Our survey, sent to the top 11 the marine food chain. They have been detected in the of plastic bags entering the ocean by up to 30% in some UK supermarkets and six grocery convenience store chains found that: air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. areas.13 However, despite a growing public appetite for refillable and reusable packaging,14 customers remain In the 60 years since large-scale production of plastics faced with aisles of plastic packaging designed to be ● 10 supermarkets are placing over 810,000 timeframes. Many have made commitments began, 79% of plastic waste globally has been disposed used once and discarded. Higher up the supply chain, tonnes of single-use plastic on the market to phase out polystyrene, polyvinylchloride of in landfills or the natural environment, 12% has plastics unseen by consumers are causing significant every year. This is in addition to over 1.1 (PVC) and black plastics within the next two been incinerated and a mere 9% recycled. Even in the environmental problems, including the fields of plastics billion single-use bags, 958 million bags for years UK, recycling rates of consumer plastic packaging used in farming and ‘ghost’ fishing gear lost at sea. life and 1.2 billion plastic produce bags for ● Despite branded goods making up only reach 30-34%.3 Unlike materials such as glass, fruit and vegetables around 40-60% of many companies’ total steel and aluminium, plastics can only be recycled a Plastic pollution has recently captured the UK public’s ● Seven supermarkets provided data on their plastic portfolio, it does not appear that finite number of times. Thus, all plastic produced will attention, quickly rising up the political agenda. single-use plastic packaging footprint supermarkets are systematically applying ultimately have to be disposed of, generating ever- This poses risks and opportunities for the grocery (branded and own brand), accounting for a their buying power to encourage big brands growing mountains of plastic waste. When landfilled, or retail sector. Legislative changes are on the horizon, combined total of over 59 billion items per to reduce their plastic footprint when it escapes collection and enters the environment, including the introduction of taxes and item bans. year. ● From fisheries to farming, most retailers plastic waste accumulates rather than decomposes, There are clear benefits for businesses who are ● Scoreboard leader Iceland has shown the remain in the early stages of monitoring causing near-permanent pollution of the marine, ahead of the curve in reducing their plastic footprint, 4 most ambition in committing to eliminate and managing plastics used in their supply freshwater and terrestrial environments . and reputational risks for those associated with own brand single-use plastic packaging. chains despite devastating environmental perpetuating pointless plastics. Only four other supermarkets have plastic- impacts China’s ban on foreign waste imports has cast a much- needed spotlight on a global plastic waste crisis. The In May 2018, the Environmental Investigation Agency specific reduction targets and these equate to ● Ahead of EU and UK legislation, many UK’s recycling record to date (averaging 30-34% of (EIA) and Greenpeace UK sent a survey to the country’s a reduction of just 5% per year or less supermarkets have taken early action to consumer plastic packaging5) has largely relied on the 11 largest supermarkets by market share, and grocery A significant increase in reusable packaging end sales or provision of certain single-use ● export of plastic waste to countries with lower labour retail chains with over 1,000 stores under their is required for retailers to play their role in plastic items such as straws, cutlery and and energy costs, and increasingly to countries with brand (based on 2017 figures). The aim of the survey reducing plastic pollution. Currently just cotton buds the highest levels of ocean plastic pollution6, without is to understand how the UK grocery retail sector four companies offer (fairly limited) options ● Around three-quarters of respondents any oversight of how much is ultimately recycled or the is working to tackle plastic pollution, benchmark for customers to bring reusable containers. support introduction of a Deposit Return working conditions involved.7 current performance and encourage year-on-year Morrisons currently leads in this area, as Scheme improvement. In a letter accompanying the survey, we well as in providing unpackaged produce.