An investigation reveals Tesco and Sainsbury’s in-store recycling schemes misleadingly result in incineration of most collected plastics.
- The Everyday Plastic campaign and Environmental Investigation Agency tracked 40 plastic waste bundles revealing extensive incineration.
- Collected plastics, instead of being recycled, are often incinerated or used for fuel, with little domestic processing involved.
- 75% of the waste was incinerated or converted into fuel, questioning the effectiveness of these recycling initiatives.
- Supermarkets are urged to address the issue of excessive plastic production and improve recycling processes.
An investigation has brought to light the concerning reality of Tesco and Sainsbury’s in-store recycling schemes. Allegations have surfaced claiming that the majority of soft plastic returned by customers is not recycled, but rather incinerated. This revelation comes from the Everyday Plastic campaign group and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA UK), who monitored forty bundles of soft plastic waste, including single-use bags, films, and wrappers, through the recycling schemes of these leading UK supermarkets.
The monitoring process involved placing tracking devices in plastic bundles dropped off at Tesco and Sainsbury’s collection points. The data revealed that these packages collectively travelled over 25,000 km both within the UK and overseas. Out of these, it was discovered that seven packages were turned into fuel pellets, five were burned for energy, and four were downcycled into lower-value plastic products abroad, particularly in Turkey. Only one package was downcycled within the UK, raising serious concerns over the claims of domestic recycling.
Overall, 70% of the tracked bundles were incinerated. This has led campaigners to argue that the current in-store recycling schemes contribute to Tesco and Sainsbury’s misleadingly claiming progress towards their voluntary packaging recyclability targets. Furthermore, it was noted that many soft plastic packaging items now feature labels suggesting shoppers ‘recycle with bags at large supermarkets’ instead of indicating they are non-recyclable, which may further mislead consumers.
Alison Colclough, Everyday Plastic’s research director, emphasised that these initiatives distract from the more significant issue of excessive plastic production, which needs to be addressed. In response, Sainsbury’s has reportedly updated signage in stores to better inform customers on how to recycle soft plastics effectively, including details on acceptable materials and their required condition.
A spokesperson from Sainsbury’s highlighted their commitment to recycling but acknowledged that soiled or damaged materials might be diverted for energy recovery. Meanwhile, a Tesco representative mentioned that the misdirection of waste materials to a Turkish processing site was a supplier error. Tesco continues efforts to eliminate unnecessary packaging and find alternative uses for non-recyclable materials, such as energy recovery, though there is recognition of the need for improved recycling infrastructure in the UK and EU.
The investigation underscores a critical need for increased transparency and efficiency in supermarket recycling initiatives to genuinely support environmental sustainability.
