Checking out on plastics A survey of UK supermarkets’ plastic habits quibusandit, sitaqueenture dolendit, voluptam endusci psunto voluptas enisasdeevel ipsam maximolorera doles magni tetea tem aspedque nnes apeverrovid sin net fugitatur, qui int quenihic dolorem volla vendam, consuo molor nihic tem aspedquei oditaquates molor sinnet fugitatur, qui int que dolorem volla vendam, consequo volla vendam, conseqci oditaquates asped quei oditaquates dolorem fugitatur, qui int quenihic tem vendam, consequo molor sin net helped make thiswork possible. cus aci oditaquates dolorem volla organisation’s missionand values nobit ium alici bla cone consequam long-term commitment to our Ximporae. Utautfugitis resti utatia numerous whose other supporters WeWe wouldalsolike wouldlike to to thankour thank Lowe and JuliaDavies. for SocialChange, SusieHewson- We wouldlike to thankThe Network ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 eia-international.org efficiency inthe cooling sector. E: [email protected] illicit tradeand improving energy T: +44(0)2073547960 greenhouse gases,exposing related 62-63 UpperStreet, London N10NY UK to refrigerant eliminate powerful climate change by campaigning cooling sector. Finally, wereduce the impactof improving energy efficiency inthe whales, dolphins and porpoises. exposing related illicittradeand and commercial exploitation of refrigerant greenhouse gases, by plastic pollution, bycatch campaigning to eliminatepowerful by addressing the threats posed the impactofclimate change by safeguard global marine ecosystems and porpoises.Finally, wereduce cash crops like palmoil.We work to exploitation ofwhales,dolphins illegal logging and deforestation for bycatch and commercial tigers, and forest crimes suchas threats posedby plastic pollution, with afocusonelephants and ecosystems by addressing the expose transnationalwildlife crime, work to safeguard global marine Our undercover investigations for cashcrops like palmoil.We as illegallogging and deforestation environmental crime and abuse. and tigers,and forest crimes such We investigate and campaign against with afocusonelephants,pangolins ABOUT EIA expose transnationalwildlife crime, Our undercover investigations environmental crime and abuse. We investigate and campaign against ABOUT EIA

Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace

eia-international.org E: [email protected] T: +44(0)2073547960 London N10NY UK in England and Wales VAT Number: 440569842. Registered (UK) Ltd.Company Number: 7752350 Environmental Investigation Agency eia-global.org E: [email protected] T: +12024836621 Washington DC20009USA PO Boxgreenpeace.org.uk 53343 EIA USE:[email protected] T: +44(0)2078658100 2PN, UK Greenpeace, Villas,London Canonbury N1 environment. 62-63 UpperStreet,solutions forourfragile EIA UK and championing responsible confronting environmental abuse investigating, exposing and world and promotes peaceby Greenpeace defends the natural ABOUT GREENPEACE

©EIAimage Checking outonplastics 9.References 8.Recommendations 7.Conclusions 6.4Customer, staffand policy engagement 6.3Supply chains 6.2Itemspecificactionsand initiatives 6.1Single-use plastic packaging of survey responses 6.Summary 5.Resultsofscorecard ranking 4.Methodology 3.Impactsofplastics onthe environment and society 2.Introduction 1.Executive summary CONTENTS

26 25 24 22 18 16 10 9 8 6 5 4

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. ● In another clear signal to policy-makers, the With no long-term end-of-life solution to the ever- set out our key requests for retailers to: Waitrose will be piloting refillables in 2019 vast majority of supermarkets called for the growing quantities of plastic waste, it is time for ● When calculated as a percentage of their current microbead ban to be extended to businesses to commit to substantially reducing their • Set year-on-year targets to reduce their single-use overall market share, Iceland had the highest cover other household products plastic footprint, phasing out all but the most essential plastic footprint plastic packaging footprint (own-branded ● Only four companies currently publish their single-use plastics. • Urgently eliminate unnecessary and non-recyclable and branded combined) at over 14,000 tonnes, annual plastic footprint but all the major plastic packaging by the end of 2019 closely followed by Aldi (12,000 tonnes), while retailers indicated that in principle they The role of supermarkets in the current plastic crisis • Introduce transparency by publishing yearly audits Co-op has the lowest at under 5,000 tonnes would publish this data going forward of single-use plastic use ● In general, retailers have a greater focus on ● Non-responders to the survey included In the UK, the grocery retail sector is the largest user 8 recycling than reduction. Co-op currently leads Ocado and the convenience chains: Spar, of plastic packaging and over half of the 1.5 million Our survey included four areas key to unlocking the on recyclability, with 79% of plastic packaging Premier Stores, Londis, Lifestyle Express and tonnes of consumer plastic packaging used in retail potential for the grocery sector to address plastic every year.9 The impact on marine life is clear, with pollution: single-use packaging, single-use plastic already widely recyclable. Most others fall Best-One. Generally, these convenience store behind, with around a third of their plastic (by many items frequently reported on beach cleans items, working with the supply chain, and engagement chains appear to have few initiatives and 10 weight) not widely recyclable originating from supermarket aisles. With estimates with staff, customers and policy makers. Retailers’ commitments on plastics under way. 11 ● Most major supermarkets have only that the grocery market will grow by 15% by 2022, these survey responses were scored and ranked against their committed to eliminate non-recyclable figures could rise if a significant turnaround is not seen commitment to reduce single-use plastics, to eliminate in the sector’s approach to plastics. non-recyclable plastics, their supply chain engagement plastic packaging by 2025 – an unacceptable and commitment to transparency. delay. Only four have adopted more urgent

4 Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace Checking out on plastics 5 3. Impacts of plastics on the environment and society

Current plastic consumption trends pose threats to There are also mounting concerns regarding the natural habitats around the globe, with serious socio- potential impacts on human health, with plastic economic implications for a wide variety of sectors and documented in drinking water and the human food stakeholders. chain. Although understandings of the fate and toxicity of microplastics in humans remains at an early stage24 The impacts of marine pollution were first documented this is a fast-growing area of scientific research, with in the 1960s. As plastic usage and quantities of plastic the World Health Organisation launching a review of the pollution have significantly increased in subsequent potential health risks of plastic in drinking water.25 decades, the severity of impacts on marine ecosystem has escalated and intensified. Plastic pollution is now The environmental and socio-economic impacts of UK deemed a major threat to marine biodiversity and is waste are not restricted to our shores. Large volumes of known to negatively impact more than 800 animal waste were previously shipped to China to be processed, species including birds, marine mammals and turtles.15 coming to a halt in January 2018 when China enacted Marine pollution is transboundary in nature, an import ban on foreign waste, citing problems with ocean currents carrying macro- and of polluted waterways, fears for public health and micro-plastics far from the place of origin. dangerous working conditions. UK waste shipments are Recent research shows that plastic rubbish now increasingly being sent to other south-east Asian from the UK accumulates in the Arctic, countries that have been identified as having the highest damaging one of the most fragile and levels of plastic leakage to the ocean.26 Concerns have remote ecosystems on earth.16 been raised regarding fraud within the export system27 and that, due to inadequate checks, a large amount Microplastics (particles <5mm) are a cause of the UK’s exported waste may be sent to landfill or for concern because their small size means incinerated, rather than recycled28, or even illegally that they can be ingested by organisms dumped29. Moreover, there are serious concerns around throughout the marine food chain, including working conditions, health and safety and child labour in those at the base of the food web. In recent the sorting and processing of our waste overseas.30 surveys they were found in two-thirds of samples in Scottish waters.17 Microplastics UK citizens are increasingly aware of the devastating are also an emerging threat to terrestrial impacts of plastic pollution and are beginning to ecosystems, posing risks to organisms that reassess their relationship with plastic. Recent polling perform essential ecosystem services such found that the top concern for British shoppers in as soil-dwelling invertebrates, fungi and the next decade is to reduce packaging and use more plant‐pollinators.18 Terrestrial wildlife is also recyclable material, ranking the issue even higher than at risk from macroplastics; recent research price considerations.31 Populus polling showed that nine documented that waste pollution in the UK out of 10 people (89%) are concerned about ocean plastic kills up to 3.2 million shrews, voles and mice pollution, and 72% feel supermarkets are not doing ©Greenpeace every year.19 enough about plastic packaging to tackle the problem of plastic pollution. 91% believe supermarkets should be Further environmental concerns arise working to reduce the amount of overall packaging they from the climate impacts of plastics. The use and 86% support the idea of supermarkets moving raw materials used to produce virtually all towards using more refillable and reusable packaging plastics are derived from fossil fuels, with instead of using single-use packaging.32 carbon emissions throughout their lifecycle, including during extraction, pipeline These numbers highlight the need for supermarkets to and refinery operations, production and take more action to reduce their plastic footprint and conversion, through to end-of-life treatment, enable their customers to do the same. There will be such as incineration.20 competitive advantages for retailers who are able to respond to this concern and a potential loss of custom All this comes with socio-economic impacts for those that do not act. Nearly a fifth of respondents for sectors including tourism, fisheries to a recent survey conducted by Ipsos said they would and agriculture. Recent studies showed stop going to supermarkets and shops which use a lot of 5.5% of investigated fish in the North Sea packaging that cannot be recycled33 and over half (55%) and Baltic Sea had ingested plastic21 and of people in the Populus polling said they would choose European consumers of shellfish potentially to shop at a supermarket which doesn’t over-package ingest up to 11,000 microplastics per year.22 products.34 These changing consumer attitudes appear to Plastic pollution in soil could have negative be already impacting sales. In a recent poll of nearly 300 impacts on crop yield, putting pressure on small retailers, the majority (54%) said that they had seen agricultural revenues.23 sales of plastic packaged goods fall, with a third reporting that consumers are buying more unwrapped goods and ©Greenpeace bringing their own bags and containers.35

Above: UK plastic waste in Malaysia 7 4. Methodology 5. Results of scorecard ranking

In May 2018, EIA and Greenpeace UK sent a survey to 18 1. Single-use packaging: Questions included UK grocery retailers regarding actions to tackle plastic those related to amount of plastic placed on the The scorecard shows a mixed performance among the UK’s largest supermarkets and even among the leaders pollution. The purpose of the survey is to: market; reduction targets; refillable and reusable there is scope for further improvement. Those at the top have shown ambition in certain areas - Iceland in taking packaging ranges; online shopping; recycling and a bold approach for committing to eliminate own brand single-use plastic packaging and Morrisons in pushing - collect data and enhance understanding of how recyclability and approach to non-conventional forward on loose produce ranges and refillable options. Poor performers tended to have vague or unambitious targets grocery retailers plan to reduce their plastic plastics. Single-use packaging is defined as and timelines for reducing single-use plastics and eliminating non-recyclable plastic polymers and formats and were footprint that which is designed to be used over a short often less transparent in providing data. Further details on individual company performance on specific questions is - showcase best practices and highlight where time span, without multiple refill or reuse trips provided throughout the report along with awards for high and low performance in particular fields. further improvement and innovation is needed or rotations to a producer, before it is discarded, - benchmark current commitments and actions to regardless of its recyclability Table 2: Scorecard ranking of UK supermarkets’ approach to addressing plastic pollution encourage year-on-year improvement. 2. Single-use plastic items: Questions included those related to the amount of specific plastic Selection methodology items placed on the market and actions to address the impact of items that are The survey was sent to the top 11 UK supermarkets by commonly found on beaches and in the marine ____GOOD market share and convenience store chains with over environment 1,000 stores operating under a single brand name.36 3. Working with the supply chain: Questions supermarkets’ plastic included those on engagement with brand Table 1: List of survey recipients suppliers; reduction and responsible policies REVEALED management of agriplastics and fisheries-related Top 11 supermarkets plastic waste; packaging used for transportation Grocery retail chains with by market share 38 and plastic pellets 37 1,000+ stores (2017) OVERALL (2018) 4. Engagement with staff, customers and policy SCORE : Questions included those regarding ELIMINATING INFLUENCING makers out of REDUCING SINGLE- NON RECYCLABLE SUPPLIERS TRANSPARENCY Tesco (27.4%) Best-one USE PLASTIC PLASTIC engagement strategies with customers and staff 10 about reducing plastic waste; policy positions on Booker (parent company of Deposit Return Schemes and other legislative Sainsbury’s (15.4%) Premier, Premier Express Family 5.7 58% 47% 49% 84% Shopper, Londis, Budgens) reforms; and commitment to transparent reporting. Asda (15.3%) Costcutter Supermarkets Group 58% 20% 49% 58% Scoring methodology 5.3 Landmark Wholesale (Lifestyle Morrisons (10.2%) 02 04 06 08 0 100 Express) Retailers were sent a questionnaire with 22 questions 50% 40% 89% related to their use, management, targets and reduction 4.7 42% Aldi (7.6%) McColl’s plans for single-use plastic. Responses were reviewed Co-op (6.6%) Nisa (subsidiary of the Co-op) against objective criteria to determine a numerical score for each question depending upon how ambitious 4.6 42% 40% 43% 87% Lidl (5.5%) Spar UK the retailer’s actions or commitments are. Questions that were not relevant for particular retailers were 45% 20% 38% 82% Waitrose (5.1%) removed from their scoring criteria (e.g. if it did not offer 4.5 online shopping). Each question was grouped into four M&S (3.3%) categories– commitment to reduce single-use plastics, DO BETTERTO NEEDS commitment to eliminate non-recyclable plastics, supply 4.3 49% 15% 27% 47% Iceland (2.1%) chain actions and transparency. These categories were weighted to place a greater emphasis on actions that Ocado (1.2%) demonstrate a commitment to reducing single-use 4.2 36% 45% 35% 87% plastic. Total scores were calculated for each retailer Grocery market share data for all supermarket retailers, and ranked from highest to lowest to produce the overall except Marks & Spencer (hereafter referred to as M&S), league table. 4.1 40% 40% 20% 84% is derived from Kantar Worldpanel research. This market share data is used as the best available metric Of the leading UK grocery retailers, the only non- to compare packaging footprints across retailers, but respondent was Ocado. The response rate for 4.1 42% 40% 30% 58% it should be noted that this represents value of items convenience chain stores was generally poor, with just purchased rather than unit sales volume. As such there ____ Costcutter Supermarkets, McColl’s Retail Group and Nisa is not a direct relationship between market share and Retail providing responses to the survey. Through the 31% 15% 36% 61% packaging volume, given that discounters would be 3.2 report, we have included analysis of convenience chains’

expected to sell a greater number of (packaged) units for POOR responses where data has been provided. However, there a given value than premium outlets. remains a large data gap on the plastic habits of some of the UK’s convenience chains, including those owned Areas covered in survey by Booker Group (such as Premier, Londis and Budgens), Spar UK and Best-One. The survey was split into four key areas:

8 Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace Checking out on plastics 9 Figure 1: UK supermarkets’ annual single-use plastic packaging footprint (tonnes) 6.1 Summary of survey responses - Single-use plastic packaging 300,000

Packaging is among the most ubiquitous – and often for 261,204 tonnes of single-use plastic packaging (own 250,000 avoidable – of single-use plastics. Ten of the UK’s leading brand and branded), Sainsbury’s second with 119,764 supermarkets are putting more than 810,000 tonnes39 of tonnes and Morrisons third with 100,155 tonnes (see single-use plastic packaging on the market every year, Figure 1). Tesco occupies nearly a third of the market making this the priority area to be addressed. A total of (27.4%), Sainsbury’s 15.4% and Morrisons 10.2%. 200,000 537,000 tonnes of this is for own brand products. The survey sought to gain an enhanced understanding of the To better understand which companies have the largest scale of the issue and the steps that grocery retailers are plastic packaging footprint proportionate to their size, 150,000 taking to address it by requesting information on: our analysis considered how many tonnes (own-brand and branded) they use relative to their market share (see - the amount of plastic packaging and plastic bags Figure 2). Iceland had the highest footprint with over placed on the market each year 14,000 tonnes per 1% market share and Aldi the second 100,000 - whether the company has phase-out or highest, with just under 12,000 tonnes. At the other end reduction targets in place of the scale, Co-op’s footprint was lowest at around 4,700

- plans to introduce or expand reusable and tonnes, followed by Waitrose with 6,280 tonnes. However, (tonnes) packaging Plastic refillable packaging ranges it should be noted that as market share data is based on 50,000 - recyclability and recycled content of packaging value of items purchased rather than unit sales volume, and associated targets this may slightly skew the comparison as discounters - approach to non-conventional plastics, such as would be expected to sell more (packaged) units for a 0 bio-based and biodegradable plastics given cost than premium retailers. - sustainable packaging guidelines Eight supermarkets (Aldi, Co-op, Iceland, Lidl, M&S, The responses indicate over 59 billion units of single- Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose) provided information use plastic packaging leave supermarkets shelves each on the number of units of own-brand packaging and year, along with more than 1.1 billion single-use bags, seven provided information on all packaging, with an 958 million bags for life and 1.2 billion produce bags. aggregate total of 59 billion units across these seven The number of units refers to the number of individual supermarket chains that account for 66% market share. Own brand Branded No data packaged items sold. However, a single unit may consist of multiple polymers and formats - for example, a ready Recent research by WRAP provides an insight into the meal may include the tray, a lining and a film lid along composition of this plastic footprint. Drink products with an outer sleeve. (milk, water and soft drinks) represent the largest Figure 2: UK supermarkets’ annual single-use plastic packaging footprint (tonnes per 1% market share) tonnage of plastic packaging in the grocery sector In general, plastic reduction targets were (256,000 tonnes), followed by fruit and vegetables (38,000 underwhelming, with very few companies setting tonnes), cleaning and washing products (52,000 tonnes) 16,000 bold quantitative targets with ambitious timelines. and toiletries (32,000 tonnes). Lightweight materials, such Respondents tended to perform better on targets for as film and wrappers, may make up a smaller proportion 14,000 recyclability and recycled content. of tonnage figures, but may account for a significant proportion of the total number of plastic packaging items 12,000 Amount of single-use packaging put on the market being placed on the market. 10,000 The total amount of plastic packaging companies place on the market tends to reflect their market size. Market 8,000 leader Tesco reported the highest amount, accountable 6,000 4,000 market share (tonnes) Plastic packaging per per 1% packaging Plastic 2,000 0

Own brand Branded No data

Checking out on plastics 11 Reduction targets Figure 3: Annual percentage reduction targets for own Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury’s have articulated 50% Table 4: Retailers with reusable and refillable primary brand single-use plastic packaging reduction targets that cover all packaging materials packaging options The figures above provide a snapshot of where the over long time periods (see Table 3). These do not clearly Initiatives Currently companies currently are in terms of their plastic state if an absolute reduction of 50% will be sought from No current plans packaging footprint. What is important is how they are plastic packaging or whether progress will be calculated underway scoping options now planning to move forward. Concerningly, only five as an average across all materials. Since weight losses companies have quantitative, plastic-specific reduction could be more easily achieved through removing heavier Co-op, Iceland, Costcutter Morrisons, targets and these largely fall far short of the scale and packaging (such as glass) than removal of lighter Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Supermarkets, Sainsbury’s, pace required (see Table 3). Other companies have none, plastic items, these targets may not imply a significant M&S McColl’s Retail * * all packaging, not plastic specific Waitrose, Tesco or only general weight-based packaging reduction reduction in units of plastic - and could even be achieved Group, Nisa targets, which may not necessarily lead to a reduction in through shifting from heavier materials to plastic. It Retail plastic packaging. is important that retailers specify a plastic-specific reduction target as part of overall packaging reduction In Morrisons, Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, customers A best practice reduction target would include a clearly targets. can use their own reusable containers for certain * * all packaging, not plastic specific stated time-bound goal of phasing out single-use plastics products bought over the counter, such as meat and fish. with quantifiable milestone reduction targets. This * * all packaging, not plastic specific Co-op has recently announced that it will ‘eliminate Morrisons is also trialling an initiative where customers should be accompanied by accountability mechanisms single-use own-brand plastic products and packaging, can use refillable containers for nuts, seeds and dried such as external auditing and transparent public including the plastic you didn’t know was there, by fruit. Waitrose has announced it will pilot further reporting. With the exception of Iceland, no supermarket 2023’.42 Co-op defines ‘single-use’ plastics as those that refillables in 2019. Four companies reported scoping work is currently near to meeting this bar. Iceland has cannot be recycled, rather than those that are designed under way, although for commercial reasons, many said committed to fully phase-out single-use own brand to be used once by customers before being discarded. they could not disclose the details. plastic packaging by 2023. It recently reported it will have Other companies are taking a less ambitious approach. Therefore, the commitment is not synonymous to eliminated 3,000 tonnes by 2019, achieving over a 20% Many are members of the UK Plastics Pact, a voluntary Iceland’s. Since the target is not quantified, it is uncertain Another way supermarkets can reduce plastics is reduction and on track for achieving the overall target.41 industry initiative launched in 2018, including Waitrose, how much plastic the company will remove and how through offering loose, unpackaged goods. The British Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, M&S, Lidl, Asda and Aldi. It much will be swapped for recyclable plastic materials Growers Association found that Morrisons offers more Table 3: UK supermarkets’ own brand single-use plastic includes a target to ‘take action to eliminate problematic and formats. loose fruit and vegetables than its competitors and the packaging reduction targets or single-use packaging’ by 2025. This framing can be company is currently trialling the removal of plastic understood as an either/or commitment, without binding It is worth noting that almost all retailers’ reduction packaging from more fresh grocery ranges.43 Reduction % signatories to take steps to reduce single-use plastics targets are for their own-brand ranges and do not include target for Company Timeframe reduction if they focus instead on those deemed problematic. As branded items. With the exception of M&S, Aldi and Lidl, A number of respondents noted challenges to the own brand per year such, it does not necessarily entail an overall plastic branded products represent 40-60% of supermarkets’ introduction of reusable packaging formats, including packaging reduction. The target is not quantified or unit-based and plastic packaging portfolios. Ideally, retailers should limited space in smaller convenience stores and health does not include specific accountability mechanisms, look to achieve an absolute reduction in their total and safety concerns. Through industry collaboration 2023 Iceland 100% 20% (2018 baseline) although public reporting forms part of the commitment. plastic footprint, ensuring that reductions in own-brand and customer engagement, some of these issues could plastic packaging are be overcome. For example, industry standards could be 10% annual Reduction targets should be met primarily by reducing not achieved through established around refillable containers to mitigate the M&S* 2018-2020 5% reduction the number of items (units) rather than solely the weight a simple shift to sales risk of contamination and address concerns of liability. of packaging, as this is what is important for reducing of branded products. 50% (all 2025 Aldi* 5% plastic pollution. For example, if a company achieved its More information on Companies should look to expand refillable and packaging) (2015 baseline) target by reducing the weight of plastic items but did not Morrisons what the companies are unpackaged ranges. Examples could include water and actually reduce the quantity sold, the number of items doing to engage with soft drinks dispensers in store, reusable bags for produce, 2019 Asda* 10% 5% leaking into the natural environment may not actually brand suppliers can refillable containers and dispensers for items such as (2017 baseline) decrease, posing the same level of risk to marine species. be found in Section 4. shampoos, dried goods and household cleaning products. 2022 Best unpackaged fruit and veg Ideally, a plastic-specific Retailers should expand the number and variety of Lidl* 20% 4% (2017 baseline) Other than Waitrose, all Pact signatories have additional target would sit within products sold loose where packaging can be removed quantitative packaging reduction targets. Only four of an overall packaging altogether. 2025 these are plastic-specific, in addition to Iceland’s (see reduction strategy, to Morrisons* 25% 3.57% (2018 baseline) Table 3). M&S and Asda both have plastic-specific targets prevent a simple like-for-like substitution of one single- that equate to reductions of 5% per year. M&S sought use item with another, which may also have negative 50% (all 2020 Sainsbury’s* 3.30% to reduce plastic packaging by 5% between March 2018 environmental consequences. packaging) (2005 baseline) – 2019 (1,500 tonnes), and aims to achieve a further 5% 50% (all 2025 reduction between 2019 – 2020 (a 10% overall reduction None of the convenience chain retailer companies Tesco* 2.77% packaging) (2007 baseline) from the 2018 baseline to March 2020). Asda has reported having plastic reduction targets or strategies in committed to reduce own brand plastic packaging by 10% place. Co-op 0 N/A N/A (6,500 tonnes) over two years (2017 -2019). Other plastic- specific targets include Reusable and refillable packaging ranges 2025 Lidl’s commitment Waitrose* Not given (baseline not - to reduce own brand The introduction of reusable and refillable ranges for disclosed) plastic packaging by customers can help companies reduce dependency 20% by 2022 from a 2017 on single-use plastic packaging. However, progress on * UK Plastics Pact signatories have also adopted the baseline, and Morrison’s Iceland this was thin on the ground, with just four companies non-quantitative target to eliminate problematic or 25% by 2025 from a reporting reusable initiatives already underway in store unnecessary single-use packaging items by 2025. 2018 baseline - both (see Table 4). equating to less than a 5% reduction per year. Most ambitious reduction target

12 Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace Checking out on plastics 13 Online shopping Co-op topped the leaderboard in terms of how much of Table 6: Targets for increasing the recycled content of Table 7: Companies currently considering adoption of their packaging is widely recyclable (79% by weight), own brand plastic packaging non-conventional plastics Online grocery shopping is a booming business, most others are lagging behind at 58-70%. Co-op also Recycled content % and Bio-based Biodegradable Compostable expected to grow 48% and account for 7.5% of the total measures the recyclability of plastic packaging on a per- Companies UK grocery market by 2022.44 The survey asked whether item basis, which is much lower at 55%. This difference timeline for achieving companies have targets or strategies to address single- is due to the fact that certain heavier items (such as Aldi, Co-op, 50% by 2019 in widely Costcutter, Costcutter, Iceland, use plastic packaging associated with online grocery plastic bottles) are more widely recyclable than the more Waitrose Costcutter, recycled packaging Iceland, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Sainsbury’s shopping, including to reduce quantity and improve numerous but lighter weight items such as plastic films, Sainsbury’s Morrisons, Tesco, 45 recyclability. which have very low recyclability levels. Ideally, all Co-op 50% by 2021 Waitrose retailers should measure recyclability on a unit basis as Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Iceland and Asda offer bagless this offers a better insight into the number of items being M&S 30-50% by 2022 Many of the respondents recognised the issues deliveries, often using reusable crates instead. Morrisons placed on the market each year that cannot be recycled. associated with non-conventional plastics, including: is looking to reduce single-use plastic packaging in Lidl, Aldi 50% by 2025 a lack of disposal facilities at scale (Aldi, Asda, Co-op, online shopping, working with partners Ocado and Most major supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco); contamination of recycling systems Amazon on refillable and reusable options. Asda, Lidl, Asda), as signatories to the WRAP Plastic Pact, have Asda, Morrisons, 30% by 2025 and impact on recyclate quality (Asda, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose offer a collection service for committed to eliminate non-recyclable plastic packaging Sainsbury’s, Tesco* Sainsbury’s, Waitrose); confusing or misleading bag recycling. No retailer currently offers reusable/ by 2025 – 6 years later than Greenpeace and EIA’s consumers (Asda, Tesco); land-use requirements for bio- refillable packaging and reverse logistics, where recommended 2019 target. Only four have adopted more *Target adopted as part of the UK Plastics Pact based (Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Tesco); and leakage into the packaging is retrieved from customers for reuse, through urgent timeframes – M&S and Aldi by 2022, Waitrose and natural environment (M&S, Morrisons, Waitrose). online deliveries. Co-op by 2023. Some companies noted challenges to increasing the level of recycled content in products and packaging, including None of the convenience chain companies provided Recyclability and recycled content of packaging Many companies have additional targets to eliminate a lack of post-consumer recycled plastic at food grade. information to suggest they were aware of the risks the most problematic polymers and packaging format These issues can be overcome with industry cooperation associated with non-conventional plastics. In fact, Non-recyclable single-use packaging has no role to types within the next two years. Tesco will phase out and improvements to recycling and collection Costcutter said that where brands offered these products play in a circular economy and should be eliminated by PVC, polystyrene and most bioplastics by 2019; Morrisons infrastructure. For example, a Deposit Return Scheme it would be a fast adopter. This is representative of the companies as a priority. While the plastic pollution crisis will remove PVC by 2019 and expanded polystyrene from would increase the quantity of low contamination, high confusion around non-conventional plastics and the requires a focus on reduction, rather than switching by 2020; M&S will remove polystyrene by 2019; Iceland quality plastic collected for recycling. belief that they present eco-friendly alternatives. from one type of plastic to another, it is important that will remove PVC by 2020; and Co-op will eliminate all remaining plastic placed on the market is easy a variety of non-recyclable materials and formats Position on non-conventional plastics including bio- Other companies, though cognisant of the problems, to recycle. Eliminating formats and materials that including crystallized polyethylene terephthalate based, biodegradable and compostables suggested that they were looking to adopt non- are not widely recyclable would alleviate customer (CPET) ready meal trays and polyethylene (PE) film from conventional plastics for certain products, with confusion and simplify household collection systems. breakfast goods by 2020. A number of companies have As the plastics debate heats up, non-conventional compostable plastics being the most popular option. Companies are encouraged to take action to eliminate also committed to take action to remove black plastic, plastics including biodegradable, bio-based and Co-op is planning to use compostable plastic (or paper) non-recyclable plastic packaging by the end of 2019, as including Waitrose (2019), M&S (2019), Morrisons (2019), compostable plastics are being promoted as sustainable labels on fruit and in tea bags because of the high an interim step towards reducing their plastic waste Lidl (2019), Co-op (2020) and Asda (dates unconfirmed). alternatives. However, there are a range of concerns probability that these will enter the food waste collection 46 footprint. While some retailers are seeking to develop a solution to associated with each of these. While there may be a system or be put into home-compost bins. The company recycling black plastic, this is not operating at scale and limited role for some non-conventional plastics, they recently announced that around 60 million plastic carrier Companies were asked what percentage of single-use retailers are therefore encouraged to phase-out black will not solve the plastic pollution crisis, which requires bags will be replaced with compostable plastic bags packaging is currently widely recyclable, both for own- plastic as a priority to prevent this plastic ending up in a more comprehensive strategy emphasising reduction, in constituencies where there are waste management brand items and for own brand and branded items landfill. reuse and redesign. facilities in place that will accept these with food combined. Few companies had data available for the compost.51 Waitrose has also recently announced its latter category. Table 5 summarises the data that was As well as ensuring that all plastic placed on the market Foremost, ‘alternative’ plastics will continue to pose a intention to introduce compostable plastic produce bags provided for own-branded plastic packaging. In defining is easy to recycle, supermarkets can also help drive the risk to marine life as they require specific conditions for loose fruit and vegetable ranges nationwide.52 An ‘widely recyclable’, many used the On-Pack Recycling shift to a circular economy by maximising the recycled for biodegradation that are not met in the natural estimated 42% of UK local authorities don’t offer food Label (OPRL) guidelines. content levels of remaining packaging. Currently, very environment. For example, some need prolonged waste collection. few companies have data available on this and only exposure to temperatures of more than 50°C.47 Their Table 5: Recyclability of supermarkets’ own brand plastic two companies were able to provide an estimate. Co-op wide-scale adoption could present additional problems Sustainable packaging guidelines packaging reported a 33% average recycled content in own brand such as complicating waste collection and recycling single-use plastic packaging and Sainsbury’s 20%. systems, as well as causing microplastic pollution if the Sustainable packaging guidelines are an important tool % own brand single-use plastic packaging widely recyclable Various respondents noted specific products which conditions required for full biodegradation are not met. to ensure conformity and standards across a company’s (by weight) contain higher than average recycled content levels. Most bio-based plastics are produced from agro-based packaging range. All the supermarkets reported to have 48 Sainsbury’s, Iceland, M&S, Co-op and Tesco all have tray feedstock, requiring an estimated 600,000 hectares to such guidelines in place, while the convenience chains ranges with recycled content levels between 60%-95%. produce 1.6 million tonnes in 2013 – a fraction of the total reported this would not be applicable as they do not 49 demand for plastics (< 0.5% of 2015 total demand). If control product specifications. Most contained criteria

All major supermarkets (except Iceland due to its phase- their production is scaled up, land-use demands could related to reduction of plastic usage and improving out pledge) are committed to increasing the levels of bring about competition with agriculture and cause the recyclability of packaging, with many encouraging 50 Co-op Aldi

Tesco biodiversity loss. Waitrose recycled content used in plastic packaging (see Table

M&S increased use of recycled content. Sainsbury’s Waitrose Waitrose Morrison’s 6). Many are aligned with the WRAP Plastic Pact target of 30% by 2025. Some have gone further, with Waitrose Our survey asked companies their position on non- 79% 70% 67% 65.1% 64% 60+% 58% the most ambitious (50% by 2019 across widely recycled conventional plastics. Table 7 highlights companies plastic), followed by Co-op (50% by 2021 for some that stated they currently have or plan to move into the packaging), M&S (between 30%-50% by 2022), Lidl and following plastic types: Aldi (50% by 2025).

14 Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace Checking out on plastics 15 Of the companies that operate in-store cafes, many have Figure 4: Overview of single-use items initiatives under way to reduce their single-use plastic 6.2 Summary of survey responses output including removing single-use coffee cups (see Table 8), offering financial incentives for reuse (charges/ - Item specific actions and initiatives discounts) and replacing plastic cutlery and stirrers with alternatives. For example, Asda, M&S and Tesco offer a discount to customers who bring reusable coffee Certain plastic items are particularly prominent in engagement. The total number of single-use items such cups, with Asda and Waitrose both planning to phase 504 million 123 million 84 million marine pollution, and many of these originate from as water bottles and plastic cutlery remains startlingly out single-use cups completely. Morrisons is trialling (six companies) (eight companies) (eight companies) supermarket shelves. Among the top items found on high, with very few companies having initiatives in place the phase-out of single-use plastic cups, sauce sachets beach cleans and other audits include plastic bags, to reduce the sales or impact of these often unnecessary and dairy sticks in one store. Others state they are still Several companies were not transparent with data on straws, bottles, cutlery, cotton buds and on-the-go food items. investigating alternatives: Co-op for plastic cutlery and single-use plastic items. Sainsbury’s and Morrisons wrappers.53 Actions taken by retailers to end sales or cups, McColl’s for its food on-the-go range and single-use stated that all the data was commercially sensitive and introduce initiatives to prevent them from entering the Single-use item sales bans cups and Spar for plastic straws and cutlery. Asda and Lidl also withheld data on plastic water bottles. marine environment could make a significant difference to ocean pollution. The survey asked grocery retailers Table 8 summarises specific single-use plastic items that A handful of companies - Asda, Iceland, Morrisons and Some companies have undertaken additional steps to about item-specific plans and initiatives, with questions companies have ended sales of or are in the process of Waitrose - are looking into facilities where customers reduce the impact of other plastic items that have a high concerning: phasing out, as well as other initiatives such as provision can get water refills in stores and cafes, reducing the potential to reach the marine environment. Many of the of in-store water dispensers. It is positive to see that need for single-use plastic bottles, something that more respondents said they supported labelling to educate - whether the company has committed to end the many companies have acted on plastic straws and supermarkets should seek to roll out. customers and ensure correct disposal methods, with sale of any single-use plastic items cotton buds but further progress is needed on plastic a focus on wet-wipes and sanitary items which have - data on plastic water bottles, plastic cutlery and cutlery and cups. There are many key items present The survey requested unit data on the number of a high tendency to be flushed down the toilet. Various coffee cups in marine plastic pollution (single-use plastic bottles, plastic water bottles, plastic cutlery and coffee cups companies support the On-Pack Recycling Label - initiatives to reduce the impact of some of the balloons, on-the-go wrappers etc.) that no companies the companies place on the market each year. Figure (OPRL) system, which seeks to provide a consistent UK- most highly littered items have yet committed to eliminate. It is important to note 4 shows the total number of items reported and the wide recycling message. Asda reported it is the only - commitments to remove single-use plastic items that disability rights groups, such as One in Five, are number of companies which reported this data. Often supermarket member of the Microfibre Consortium, a from in-store cafes. concerned that bans on certain items such as plastic described as the marketing trick of the century, a group looking to understand the impact of fibre shedding straws could be detrimental to certain citizens and staggering 504 million units of bottled water are sold from clothing and solutions for reducing this. M&S is also The results found that while many companies have therefore are calling on manufacturers to produce an each year by just six of the major supermarkets, despite looking into solutions to address microfibre pollution. made commitments to end sales of certain single-use environmentally friendly flexible non-plastic straw wide access to free and safe drinking water across the Packaging innovation is another area companies are items, there remains significant scope for action on suitable for hot and cold liquids.54 UK, the true figure being undoubtedly much higher when working on. Co-op is working towards the removal of others and innovation through eco-design and customer factoring in those who wouldn’t disclose sales figures. In certain packaging components (known as ‘tear-off bits’), addition to this, more than 123 million pieces of cutlery and Iceland is looking into ‘marine safe’ packaging Table 8: Overview of commitments to reduce specific single-use items and 84 million coffee cups are given away free each year. alternatives, such as those made from kelp. Aldi Asda Co-op Iceland Lidl M&S Morrisons Sainsbury’s Tesco Waitrose

√ √ √ √ √ X √ X √ √ (by 2019) (from Jan 2019) (but removed Plastic Bags Straws from cafes) A total of 1.2 billion single-use plastic bags, more and Asda seeing increases in 5p bags sold in X √ X N/A √ √ X X X X than 958 million bags for life and 1.3 billion ultra- (by 2019) (investigating (although (but (but plastic 2017/18 compared to 2016/17, rising by 4% and 16% alternatives) removing removed free in cafes) lightweight plastic produce bags are consumed respectively.56 Retailers must take action to drive from cafes) from every year by the 10 supermarket respondents. The further reductions, rather than undermining the Cutlery home offices) carrier bag charge has resulted in an overall drop success of the 5p charge by offering ‘bags for life’ at in single-use of 86% compared to a 2014 baseline similar prices. A significant increase to the price of but there remains a need for further action.55 bags, or ending sales completely, should help drive √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Iceland, followed closely by M&S, had the highest further reductions. buds Cotton Cotton consumption of single-use plastic bags relative to their market share. Tesco had the highest sales Co-op recently reported that it would be swapping of bags for life and Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Tesco N/A √ X N/A N/A X X X X √ conventional plastic single-use bags for (by 2019) (investigating (but (but 10p the highest use of plastic produce bags relative to compostable alternatives. Morrisons has committed alternatives) discount for charge for reuse) single- market share. to remove the very lightweight plastic bags for loose

Coffee cups Coffee use) fruit and vegetables offering paper bags instead and Differences in definition may skew the reported Waitrose will replace its produce bags with a home- figures, with some companies reporting they provide compostable option. Waitrose also note changes X X X X X X X X X X (offered in (currently (offered in (installing (offered in (exploring zero single-use bags, describing their 5p option as in customer behaviour, with a 30% reduction in cafes and exploring) cafes) in new cafes) options & ‘bags for life’ as they can be returned to store for customer use of fruit and vegetable bags in 2018. In exploring stores and available at refills fountains) offered in cafes) a free replacement. Many companies report they a welcome move, some retailers report that they are cafes) In-store water water In-store are phasing out single-use plastic bags, including exploring reusable produce bags, though none have Asda, Iceland, Lidl, Tesco, McColl’s, Morrisons and yet trialled them, an action that would be much Replacing Waitrose. Unfortunately, the figures indicate that polystyrene Plastic-free tea Plastic free preferable to substitution of one single-use product takeaway bags tea bags many consumers continue to use so-called ‘bags for

Other Other for another. containers life’ bags as a single-use option, with Sainsburys

* N/A denotes where the store does not provide or sell that item, or does not operate in-store cafes / drinks facilities

16 Checking out on plastics 17 Case study: Marine agriplastic pollution in southern Spain 6.3 Summary of survey responses In Spain, plastic greenhouses and mulching coverage is Cope Regional Park in Murcia. Other studies have also - Supply chains concentrated in the southern regions of Murcia, Canarias identified this area as an agriplastic pollution hotspot. and Andalucía. Andalucía has the highest concentration, Between October and November 2015, four areas were

with over 50% of its 113,897 hectares covered with sampled in Marina, Cabo de Cope. Over 10,000 units The plastics found in the aisle are just a part of the Co-op, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose) agricultural plastics.58 Within the Andalucia region, of agricultural plastics were recovered, making it the picture in calculating a grocery retailer’s plastic footprint. to less than 5% (Aldi, M&S). Multinational brands have Almería is thought to have the highest greenhouse largest identifiable source of marine debris (22% of total From the tiny pellets used to manufacture plastic items, wide-ranging (or sometimes non-existent) sustainability coverage in the world.59 Many UK grocery retailers are plastics).61 to the fields of plastic polytunnels used to grow crops, policies. A recent sector survey of fast moving consumer known to source produce from this region. plastic is ubiquitous throughout the supply chain. The goods (FMCG) corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé The impact this is having on marine species is becoming survey sought to gain a better understanding of how and P&G found that none of the companies surveyed Between 2010-15, University de Deusto and Asociación increasingly clear, with correlation between sperm grocery retailers are looking to reduce and responsibly had commitments to move away from single-use Ambiente Europeo studied the correlation between whale mortalities and agriplastic hotspots.62 In 2013, manage these behind-the-scene plastics. It contained plastic, with most actually increasing the amount of agriplastics and marine pollution, analysing 47,682kg a dead sperm whale was found to have digested 17kg questions concerning: single-use plastic packaging and waste they produce.57 of marine plastic pollution from shorelines across of plastic greenhouse waste on the southern Spanish Retailers can leverage their buying power to encourage Murcia, Andalucía, Canarias and other regions.60 They coast of Granada.63 Studies also indicate the emerging - whether the company is engaging with brand brand suppliers to improve their approach to plastics, found an eightfold increase in plastic items related to threat of ingestion of plastics by birds in inland Spanish suppliers around the elimination of non- requesting that they adopt best practices and set targets intensive agriculture between 2014-15, with the highest agricultural landscapes.64 recyclable plastics and single-use plastic and timelines. If a brand is unwilling or unable to meet concentration in the Punta Calnegre-Cabo packaging these goals, supermarkets could stop selling their - whether the company is working with products. Retailers have previously dropped brands that agricultural and fisheries supply chains on do not meet standards for animal testing or labour rights, the reduction and responsible management of so this approach is not unprecedented. plastics Below: NASA photo of agriplastic coverage approx. 20,000 ha of the Campo de Dalías, Almería, Spain - requirements concerning the responsible Four retailers reported that they have no engagement Bottom left: Sperm whale stranded on Spanish shore, 2018 management of plastic pellets under way with brand suppliers regarding plastics (see Bottom right: Plastic retrieved from stomach of dead sperm whale, 2018 - secondary and tertiary packaging used in Table 9), although Nisa and Costcutter reported that this operations and transportation, and the use of will form part of future plans and M&S and Lidl have reusable distribution containers. limited branded stock. The majority of respondents said they had communicated their own strategies and Most retailers indicated that they are only in the early commitments on plastics, often sharing information and stages of monitoring and managing plastic use in technical learnings with companies. For example, Co-op supply chains. The highest scoring area was reusable helped Quorn to devise a strategy to remove hard-to- distribution containers, with almost all respondents recycle black plastic from its packaging. Generally, the using these for the transportation of produce. While focus of engagement tended to be on recyclability rather some engagement with brand suppliers is under way, it than reduction. does not appear that the UK’s largest supermarkets are systematically applying their buying power to encourage Disappointingly, few companies said they were actively the elimination of single-use and non-recyclable plastics encouraging branded suppliers to adopt ambitious by brands. Only a limited number are actively working strategies and targets on plastic. Asda said it is to address plastics in fisheries and even fewer have a encouraging its largest suppliers to set targets and comprehensive approach to dealing with agricultural Sainsbury’s said it will be asking branded suppliers to plastics or plastic pellets (nurdles). It is clear that much support the UK Plastics Pact. Tesco suggested they were more action is needed in response to the plastics used engaging with branded suppliers to ‘follow their lead before products end up on supermarket shelves. on packaging’, although it was unclear whether this

included setting targets. Only Sainsbury’s said it has ©NASA Engaging with brand suppliers enshrined its plastic strategy into a policy for branded suppliers. From Coca-Cola and Walkers to small independent labels, grocery retailers sell large volumes of branded goods. These represent varying proportions of their plastic packaging portfolios - from around 40-60% (e.g.

Table 9: Overview of engagement initiatives with branded suppliers

Encourage target Policy for Communicate standards and share setting or support of branded No current action information UK Plastic pact suppliers

Lidl & M&S (limited Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Iceland, McColl’s Retail branded stock), Group, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Spar, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s Sainsbury’s Costcutter Supermarkets, Waitrose Nisa Retail ©Murcia Today ©Murcia ©Murcia Today ©Murcia

18 Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace Checking out on plastics 19 Working with agricultural suppliers Working with fisheries suppliers Few grocery retailers reported that they are currently Most respondents said they have in place policies and engaged with suppliers on actions to prevent pellet loss. initiatives regarding reusable distribution containers The use of plastics in agricultural production (known as Each year, over 640,000 tonnes of abandoned, lost or Co-op and M&S referenced Operation Clean Sweep, an for transportation of produce, although the extent agriplastics) has intensified in recent years, including discarded fishing gear (known as ‘ghost gear’) enters the industry-led voluntary scheme which provides a toolbox of their use across product lines was often unclear. mulch and greenhouse film, silage covers and bags, ocean.70 This poses a huge threat to marine life, with the of best practices to prevent pellet loss.76 However, the Only M&S provided an exact figure of the proportion irrigation systems, tunnels and covers.65 They have hundreds of kilometres of nets and lines lost every year voluntary scheme lacks monitoring and compliance of food distributed to stores in reusable containers: a variety of purposes, such as weed suppression, ensnaring, injuring and killing marine life, impacting mechanisms, and plastic pellets are still the second 76%. Convenience stores McColl’s and Costcutter both protecting crops from insects and harsh weather already depleted commercial fish stocks as well as largest direct source of microplastic emissions in Europe. reported that since they don’t have a central distribution conditions and for storage and transportation. Due to protected species.71 Co-op appears the most active on the issue, working with service or direct relationship with produce suppliers, this high levels of contamination from soil and pesticides, BRC Global Standards (a standard-setting organisation) question was not applicable to them. these are often difficult to recycle.66 Where agriplastics Formed in 2015 by World Animal Protection, the multi- to find an effective, low-cost way of addressing the issue are not recovered, they are often buried in the soil, stakeholder Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) works with the broadest possible reach. Tesco reported that abandoned in fields or watercourses,67 and even illegally to build evidence, define best practice and catalyse its quality standards policy and documentation covered Table 10: Supply chain engagement on agriplastics, burnt.68 This can lead to leakage into the environment, and replicate sustainable solutions through the four plastic pellets. Sainsbury’s and Waitrose stated they were fisheries and plastic pellet loss contributing to marine pollution (see case study, R’s: reducing the volume of fishing gear entering the looking into the issue but not yet actively engaging with Initiatives Early stage previous page). Residual plastic film can also have oceans; removing ghost gear already there; recycling suppliers about best practices. The remaining majority of No detrimental effects on soil structure, salt levels, nutrient ghost gear; and rescuing marine animals.72 A number respondents said they were not currently active on the underway thinking transport and crop growth.69 of the supermarkets responded that they were issue at all (see Table 10). engaged with the GGGI, including Waitrose, Tesco, Aldi, Asda, When asked if they are actively working with fruit and Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and M&S, while Co-op and Lidl Packaging in supply chains Co-op, Lidl, Agriplastic M&S, Morrisons, vegetable suppliers on the reduction and responsible are considering the initiative. Iceland and Lidl both initiatives Sainsbury’s Tesco, management of agriplastics, retailers generally indicated noted that they are members of the Sustainable Seafood Besides the packaging that consumers see on the shelf Waitrose, that this was an issue they were only just beginning to Coalition, which includes in its guidance framework that (known as primary packaging), grocery retailers also Iceland explore, without comprehensive policies or programmes if ghost gear is known to be an issue, then mitigation use secondary packaging to protect and collate products yet in place (see Table 10). Their focus is primarily on measures are put in place.73 Four respondents including during storage, transport and distribution (including M&S, recovery and recycling rather than reduction. Two two of the UK’s largest supermarkets (Asda and Aldi) said packaging made to display multiple primary product Iceland, supermarkets (Sainsbury’s and M&S) reported existing this was not an issue they were currently considering. units on the shelf) and tertiary packaging to transit Lidl, Ghost gear Morrisons, Co-op Aldi, Asda initiatives under way on the responsible use and Actions that could be taken include supporting gear goods, including pallets, stretch wrap and strapping. initiatives recovery of agriplastics. Only Waitrose and Morrisons marking, retrieval and recycling schemes for fishing gear Sainsbury’s, mention reducing the amount of agriplastics used. Going as well as encouraging the use of reusable catch and bait Companies were asked to report the quantity of single- Tesco, forward, supermarkets should develop more proactive boxes and elimination of polystyrene packaging. use secondary and tertiary packaging used and disposed Waitrose strategies and targets, aligned with the waste hierarchy, of annually. Four companies provided this data, with Aldi, Asda, to reduce usage and ensure responsible management Plastic pellets quantities ranging from 2,000 to 4,680 tonnes per year, Iceland, of plastics in their supply chains, with independent accounting for between 1 - 8% of their overall single- Action on Lidl, auditing of suppliers to ensure they meet specified Small plastic pellets, also known as nurdles, are melted use plastic packaging footprint. Others (including Asda, plastic Co-op, M&S, Sainsbury’s, McColl’s criteria. down and used in the manufacture of all plastic Co-op, Costcutter, McColl’s, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s) pellets Tesco Waitrose Retail products. They can enter the environment at every stage did not provide this data, with many stating it is not (nurdles) Group, Other companies (Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons, of the plastic production, manufacturing and recycling currently collected. Morrisons, Tesco & Waitrose) noted early stage thinking on process. According to recent analysis, between 16,888 Nisa agriplastics, exploring best practices. McColl’s and and 167,431 tonnes of these pellets may be entering the Costcutter both reported that they do not work directly ocean across Europe each year.74 Numerous marine with fruit and vegetable suppliers but have spoken with species have been found to ingest the pellets which, their main wholesale suppliers (Morrisons and Co-op like other microplastics, may cause a range of impacts, respectively) to determine what is being done. including effects on reproduction and behaviour.75

Below left: Agriplastic waste polluting the Below right: Discarded fishing Below: Plastic pellet pollution on a beach in marine environment in Southern Spain gear on Cornwall beach North Queensferry, Firth of Forth, Scotland

©Asociación Ambiente Europeo ©Fidra Most respondents were supportive of all these reforms, Commitment to transparency and no company stated they actively opposed any 6.4 Summary of survey responses of the legislative tools. Around three-quarters of Ocado was the only major grocery retailer that refused respondents were supportive of a legislative extension to participate in the survey, along with the convenience - Customer, staff and policy engagement to the microbead ban and three quarters supported chains, Spar, Premier Stores, Londis, Lifestyle Express introduction of DRS. Morrisons, Tesco and Iceland are and Best-One. From the millions of customers passing through as wider awareness raising (including through education currently trialling reverse vending machines for plastic supermarket doors every day to staff and policy programmes, clean-up initiatives and community bottles in some stores. Most also supported reform to The 10 supermarket respondents said they would makers, grocery retailers interact with a wide projects). the UK’s EPR scheme for packaging, with some calling in principle commit to report transparently on their variety of stakeholders whose behaviour and actions for complete reform of the system. The current EPR plastic footprint on an annual basis. Convenience stores collectively shape the UK’s plastic habits. Through these In terms of customer engagement, Morrisons provided framework has come under criticism on a number of McColl’s, Costcutter and Nisa noted issues in gathering engagements, the companies can enable and incentivise the most extensive range of plastic-related initiatives. fronts: including its lack of transparency concerning the data to calculate their plastic footprint. Co-op, sustainable lifestyle choices and support the adoption of The issue has been prioritised following the company’s how revenues are spent; that it does not cover the full Morrisons, Waitrose and Asda are the only supermarkets ambitious legislation to reduce single-use plastics. 2017/18 survey, where customers ranked ‘reducing costs of the recovery and recycling of packaging and which have so far published their plastic packaging plastic packaging’ as the third most important issue. The that it does not act as an incentive for companies to footprints online, with Waitrose the highest performing, The survey sought to gain a better understanding of how company is incentivising customers to reduce plastic reduce packaging, increase the reuse or recyclability of publishing both unit and tonnage data. 78 grocery retailers are using their influence to steer the through offering points for reusing containers. packaging or levels of recycled content. agenda on plastics, asking questions on the following A commitment to transparency which is not reflected issues: There is scope for a significant scaling up of activities In Spring 2018, the UK Government outlined plans to in public disclosures of key information serves little if retailers are to fully leverage the plastic reductions ban the sale of certain single-use plastic items that purpose. It is notable that many companies chose not to - engagement programmes for staff and available through customer engagement. Increased use have a high potential to become marine plastic pollution disclose full details about their plastic footprint through customers about reducing their plastic footprint of incentives and penalties could play a role, as seen with (including plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic- the survey. As just one example, companies including - policy engagement on key legislative issues the 5p levy on plastic bags which reduced consumption stemmed cotton buds) with a consultation launched Asda, Lidl, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s did not disclose including Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), by 80%.77 The rolling out of customer engagement in October 2018. The Treasury also ran a consultation data on sales of plastic water bottles. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), on plastic reduction will need to be accompanied by regarding the possible introduction of a tax system plastic levies and bans, and an extension to the widening the scope of plastic-free and refill options on charges of addressing single-use plastic waste, Table 13: Companies committed to transparent reporting microbead ban available in supermarkets. announcing in October 2018, plans to introduce a tax on of their plastic footprint - a commitment to transparent reporting on their plastic packaging that contains less than 30% recycled plastic footprint on an annual basis. Engagement with policy-makers content from April 2022. Six major supermarkets were supportive of plastic bans and levies depending on the Yes No specifics of proposed measures. Overall, we found that while almost all grocery retailers Through meetings with policy makers and legislative Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Costcutter, Iceland, have laudable engagement initiatives under way, few consultation processes (including collective action via Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, McColl’s are fully tapping into the transformative potential trade bodies), grocery retailers have power to influence Almost all respondents were supportive of a more Waitrose available through marketing, communications and policy outcomes. Almost all respondents indicated they comprehensive microbead ban and/or had already actively advocating for policy measures. Companies were actively involved in current discussions on plastics excluded microplastics ingredients from household were generally supportive of policy actions to increase and only McColl’s and Nisa said they do not directly products as well as the rinse-off personal care products recycling rates, and all major supermarkets stated they engage with policy makers. already covered by the current ban. Co-op was the most would be willing to report transparently on their plastic articulate, saying “We don’t believe that the current Ocado legislation goes far enough, feeling very much like footprint. While there appears to be a general good will, A number of important policy measures are being Least transparent more concrete actions will be required before these considered over the 2018/19 period, including the unfinished business. We would like to see a complete ban award measures can help catalyse a real transition away from introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks on the use of any plastics in products that are likely to go our current throwaway culture. containers, reforms to legislation that define producers’ down the drain.” responsibilities to cover the costs associated with the Engagement with customers and staff about reducing packaging they place on the market (Extended Producer This strong support from the grocery retail sector is a plastic waste Responsibility) and the introduction of bans and taxes clear sign to policy-makers that an extension to the on certain single-use plastic items. The survey asked current ban would be a welcome step towards reducing All respondents indicated that they had initiatives companies what their position is on these policy marine plastic pollution. under way to engage with staff and consumers about instruments. It also asked whether they would support reducing plastic waste. These took a variety of forms, an extension to the 2018 UK ban on microbeads in ‘rinse including internal communications (i.e. online resources, off’ cosmetic products, for example to additionally cover internal bulletins and newsletters, promotion of reuse microplastics intentionally added to household cleaning and recycling in staff facilities); staff education and products. Table 12: Overview of companies’ positions on key legislative measures trainings programmes; customer communications and engagement (including through labelling, magazines, Packaging Recovery Note Name of Plastic bans and Extension of promotion of plastic-free options and incentives); as well Deposit return scheme reform and Extended legislation levies microbead ban Producer Responsibility

Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Aldi, Co-op, Iceland, Lidl, Aldi, M&S, Tesco, Table 11: Overview of staff, customer and community engagement initiatives Generally Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Iceland, M&S, Morrisons, M&S, Morrisons, Tesco, Iceland, Waitrose, support M&S, Tesco, Waitrose Tesco, Waitrose, Waitrose Asda Staff education and Customer communications and Wider education and Lidl, Sainsbury’s Internal communications training engagement communication projects

Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Costcutter, Aldi, Asda, Costcutter, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Iceland, Lidl, M&S, McColl’s, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Tesco, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, Co-op Iceland Sainsbury’s Sainsbury’s

22 Checking out on plastics 23 7. Conclusions 8. Recommendations

UK supermarkets have a major role to play in facilitating Urgently eliminate unnecessary and non-recyclable Public appetite for a radical rethink of single-use plastic - Fisheries-related plastic waste: Work with the shift away from a single-use linear economy and plastic packaging by the end of 2019 is at an all-time high. Grocery retailers have an exciting fishery suppliers on implementing best practice reversing current plastic consumption trends. Our survey opportunity to move beyond incremental change and to prevent and address abandoned, lost and results show that most companies are yet to take the Plastics that are hard to recycle have no role to play in a fundamentally redefine their relationship with plastic. discarded fishing gear and other plastic waste. opportunity provided by current levels of public interest circular economy and the lack of urgency around their The actions and choices made by companies today - In-store operations and transportation. Introduce to fundamentally rethink their relationship with single- elimination is concerning. The majority of respondents are defining the future health of ocean ecosystems a comprehensive policy requiring reusable use plastics. As it becomes increasingly clear that we are aligned with the WRAP Plastic Pact timeframe of and those that depend on them. EIA and Greenpeace distribution containers for transportation of all cannot recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis, removing non-recyclable plastics by 2025, with more encourage grocery retailers to take this responsibility products. more ambitious action is required on reduction: both ambitious commitments being made by M&S and Aldi to heart and pioneer new ways to reduce their plastic - Plastic pellet loss: Introduce requirements for across own brand ranges and through exerting pressure (2022) and Co-op and Waitrose (2023). Many companies footprint across the entire supply chain. suppliers to implement best practice measures on brand suppliers. are committed to phasing out the most problematic to prevent plastic pellet loss, with auditing and formats and materials before 2025, including PVC, A summary of key recommendations is provided reporting requirements. The following summary provides a snapshot of how expanded polystyrene and black plastic packaging. below. More detailed suggestions have been provided companies perform against the three key criteria set out throughout the main body of this report. Engagement with staff, customers and policy makers Also concerning is the data deficit on overall by EIA and Greenpeace. - Staff, customer and community engagement recyclability levels of plastics leaving supermarket Single-use plastic packaging campaigns. Introduce schemes and initiatives to shelves, particularly for branded goods. To assess the Introduce annual targets to reduce single-use plastic - Reduction targets. Introduce plastic-specific, shift staff and consumer behaviour on plastics, number of non-recyclable items hitting the market each footprint quantitative year-on-year reduction targets through incentivising reusable and refillable year, companies must collect this data using a line-by- for single-use packaging, achieved principally options, awareness-raising initiatives, staff Ten UK supermarkets are placing more than 810,000 line approach. Currently, only Co-op provides this unit through removal of plastic packaging rather training, information-sharing platforms and tonnes of single-use plastic packaging on the market data, the rest reporting in tonnage which can be skewed than lightweighting. Reductions should be made community engagement campaigns. each year and only half of these companies have by the presence of heavier but more recyclable items. as part of an overall packaging reduction drive, - Engage with policy makers to support reduction quantitative, plastic-specific reduction targets in place Co-op leads the way on how much of their own brand rather than through substitution with single-use of plastic pollution. Engage individually and to address this. Iceland has the most ambitious pledge to packaging is widely recyclable by weight (79%), with packaging made from other materials. through industry bodies to encourage the eliminate all own brand single-use plastic packaging by most others lagging behind at 58 -70%. - Refillable and reusable packaging. Significantly introduction of policies which will address 2023 (a 20% annual reduction), whereas most companies expand refillable and reusable packaging options the causes of plastic pollution, including: the While progress on recyclability is welcome, in line are reducing their footprint at a much slower pace (under and unpackaged ranges across stores and introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme; with the waste hierarchy, the emphasis should be on 5% per year), with much focus still on lightweighting product lines and incentivise consumer use. wholesale reform of Extended Producer reduction. With UK recycling capacity already maxed plastic packaging (reducing the weight of plastic in a . Commit Responsibility; plastic item bans and levies; and out, and waste being shipped half-way across the world - Eliminate non-recyclable packaging unit of packaging) rather than removing it from the shelf to urgently eliminate all non-recyclable plastic the extension of the UK microbeads ban to other (and even then not necessarily recycled), eliminating entirely. packaging from own brand ranges by end of products non-recyclable plastics should be seen as the first step in . 2019. Establish targets, sustainable packaging an overall plastic reduction strategy. There is considerable scope for future reductions to guidelines and design requirements with a focus Investors and shareholders in these companies are be achieved through the scaling-up of loose product Introduce transparency by publishing yearly audits of on material reduction, reuse and recycling. encouraged to promote these recommendations through ranges and refillable packaging formats. At present, single-use plastic use - Non-conventional plastics. Adopt a their engagements. reusable packaging options remain thin on the ground, precautionary approach and fully assess the with some progress made by Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, By refusing to participate in the survey, Ocado, Spar, sustainability issues associated with non- Recommendations for policy-makers: Waitrose and Tesco in allowing customers to bring their Premier Stores, Londis, Lifestyle Express and Best- conventional plastics (bio-based, biodegradable, own containers for a limited number of product lines. One demonstrated the lowest levels of transparency. compostable), viewing them as a last resort Action by retailers and brands must be supported and Morrisons is the largest provider of unpackaged fruit and The lack of data provided by the convenience chains for well-adapted purposes rather than a go-to incentivised by government policies that provide a clear vegetables, with many retailers making limited effort to is particularly concerning given the large number of substitute for conventional plastic. signal to businesses to reform their use of single-use increase their range of loose produce - despite growing stores they represent, leaving a data gap among a group plastics. The UK Government must develop a suite of customer appetite. of retailers already lagging behind on commitments to Single-use plastic items policy measures to tackle plastic pollution at source, tackle plastic pollution. - End sales and free provision of single-use items implementing a combination of bans; reduction targets; Branded goods can make up to as much as 60% of that commonly leak into the environment and a Deposit Return Scheme; wholesale reform of Extended supermarket’s plastic packaging footprint, yet it does not Among the survey respondents, commitments to improve collection incentives, eco-design and Producer Responsibility regulation; as well as taxes and appear that companies are systematically using their transparency were reassuringly widespread, with Co-op, labelling. This includes but is not limited to charges. Such measures should be designed to reduce relationships and buying power to urge reductions and Morrisons, Waitrose and Asda already reporting on their plastic cutlery, bottles, cups, straws, stirrers, consumption of single-use plastics and incentivise target setting from big brands. More robust engagement plastic packaging footprint. Disclosures can be further sanitary items and plastic stemmed cotton buds. reusable and refillable packaging formats, alongside will be a significant factor in reducing companies’ overall improved by providing data on the number of items ensuring easy, harmonised and cost-effective recycling plastic footprints going forward. put on the market, as well as tonnage. A commitment Working with the supply chain in the UK. Policy-makers are encouraged to take note to transparency which is not backed up by public - Robust engagement with branded suppliers. of the strong support signalled in this survey for an Reduction and management of plastics in supply chains disclosures of key information serves little purpose and a Engage with brand suppliers on reducing single- extension of the UK ban on microbeads and introduction - including agriplastics, those associated with fisheries, number of companies were unwilling to provide data on use plastics by encouraging target-setting, of a Deposit Return Scheme. and plastic pellets - also appears at an embryonic stage. the sales of items such as plastic bags, water bottles and sharing best practice and collaborating on Better progress has been seen with reusable distribution coffee cups. refillable packaging ranges. containers, with almost all respondents using these for - Agriplastics. Work with fruit and vegetable the transportation of produce. suppliers on the reduction and responsible management of plastics used on the farm to prevent pollution of soil, rivers and oceans.

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Center for International Environmental Law, Fueling Plastics: for the eleven supermarkets surveyed was not possible, as Asda As_main_meal_for_sperm_whales_Plastics_debris Fossils, Plastics, & Petrochemical Feedstocks, 2017.Available at was unable to provide tonnage data for their branded sales. 63. The Guardian, 2013. Spanish sperm whale death linked to http://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Fueling-Plastics- 40. WRAP, 2018. Ibid UK supermarket supplier’s plastic. Available at: https://www. Fossils-Plastics-Petrochemical-Feedstocks.pdf. 41. Iceland, 2018. Iceland announces more significant milestones in UK theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/08/spainsperm-whale-death- 21. Rummel, C. D. et al, 2016. Plastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal first plastics commitment. Available online at: http://about.iceland. swallowed-plastic

26 Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace Checking out on plastics 27