Tesco is switching to clear caps for its own-brand milk to boost at-home recycling.
- The change impacts 425 million bottles annually, improving the recyclability of milk containers.
- Clear caps eliminate the need for separate processing, enhancing material recovery from waste.
- An additional 3,900 tonnes of recycled plastic can be used annually in new bottles.
- Tesco encourages crushing bottles and replacing caps before recycling to prevent loss.
Tesco has announced a significant change in its packaging strategy by transitioning from coloured to clear caps on 425 million of its own-brand milk bottles annually. This initiative is aimed at simplifying the recycling process for customers at home. The coloured caps currently necessitate separate processing from clear packaging, making recycling less efficient.
The shift to clear caps allows Tesco to enhance the quality of the material recovered from household waste, thereby increasing the amount of plastic that can be recycled into new bottles. This process is not only more sustainable but also enables the continuous recycling of the cap material, contributing to a circular economy in packaging.
Moreover, with this change, Tesco is projected to incorporate an additional 3,900 tonnes of recycled plastic back into new bottle production each year. This increase in recycled content underscores Tesco’s commitment to reducing plastic waste and supporting environmental sustainability.
Tesco is not the first to make this transition, as other major retailers like Asda, Aldi, Lidl, and One Stop have already adopted similar changes over the previous year. This collective effort by large retailers indicates a broader industry move towards reducing plastic waste.
To maximise the benefits of this change, shoppers are encouraged by Tesco to squash or crush empty bottles and replace the original lid before recycling them. This practice helps ensure that caps are not lost or discarded during the recycling process, further enhancing recycling efficiency.
Different milk variants, such as whole, semi-skimmed, and skimmed, will still be clearly marked by coloured block labels on the main bottle body, maintaining product identification without compromising recyclability.
This strategic change by Tesco is a considerable step towards improving recycling practices and reducing plastic waste in the grocery retail sector.
