Major supermarkets accused of “misleading” customers over recycling after campaigners tracked 40 bundles of soft plastic packaging waste and found 70% was burnt.
Using Apple AirTags, Everyday Plastic and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) tracked 40 bundles of soft plastic packaging waste through take-back schemes across England over 12 months.
Volunteers dropped off the bundles at front-of-store collection points in Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets across England, which left the stores between July 2023 and February 2024.
Of the tracked soft plastic packaging waste collected for recycling at Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores, 70% of the soft plastic that reached a known destination was burnt, EveryDay Plastic said.
The majority of the bundles of soft plastic we tracked ended up being burned for energy recovery.
The investigation found that the rest of the material ended up at recycling facilities that downcycle soft plastic waste into lower-value products, most of which were in Türkiye.
Environmental law non-governmental organisation ClientEarth said the results of the investigation show that supermarket soft plastic take-back schemes are “misleading” customers.
Collectively, the investigation found the tracked bundles of soft plastic that reached a final destination travelled over 25,000 km across the UK and overseas.
Since 2021, major UK supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s and Tesco, have been rolling out front-of-store collection points to recycle soft plastic packaging.
Both supermarkets have now responded to the investigation in statements given to Circular Online.
What happened to the soft plastic bundles?
Out of the trackers that are known to have reached a final destination:
- 7 were turned into fuel pellets (commonly used by industry, such as in cement kilns).
- 5 were burnt for energy (including two at incineration facilities in Europe).
- 4 were downcycled overseas.
- And 1 was downcycled in the UK.
Commenting on the investigation, Alison Colclough, Research Director at Everyday Plastic, said: “The majority of the bundles of soft plastic we tracked ended up being burned for energy recovery – a solution that is being deployed more and more in order to deal with the unmanageable amount of plastic waste.
“Supermarkets, waste companies and the government acknowledge that there are significant challenges to recycling soft plastic.
“Our tracker investigation supports these claims and shows that soft plastic is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to recycle at scale.
“The take-back schemes are being presented as a solution, which is diverting attention from the main issue that can’t be overlooked: far too much unnecessary plastic packaging is being produced.”
Everyday Plastic and the EIA UK are calling for the UK Government to support a cut in global plastic production by 40% by 2040 at the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations and beyond.
As part of its recommendations, Everyday Plastic has said the UK Government should ban plastic waste exports, significantly reduce single-use non-essential plastic packaging use, and remove plastic packaging from unprocessed fruit and vegetables by 2030.
Industry reactions
Jane Martin CEO of City to Sea, commented: “It is unsurprising that retailers broke their contract with consumers and sent plastic waste to be burnt. We know that current waste management systems cannot manage the amount of soft plastic used, especially as it’s almost impossible to recycle.
“The answer to retailers is clear: invest in packaging that lasts. There are numerous reusable packaging success stories across the country, with M&S announcing the expansion of its reuse scheme in partnership with Reposit to 25 stores and engaging over 10,000 shoppers.
“Instead of breaking consumer trust and burning plastic, retailers can clear the shelves of plastic with packaging that doesn’t need to end up in the bin.”
I am not surprised, nor am I shocked by the ‘revelation’ that plastic is burned after years of such practice being evident.
Sian Sutherland, Co-Founder of A Plastic Planet & Plastic Health Council, said: “I am not surprised, nor am I shocked by the ‘revelation’ that plastic is burned after years of such practice being evident.
“Whether the plastic we use is put in a recycling bin or it is set alight on the spot, the impact the material will have on the planet and people will be inevitably be negative.
“The myth of recycling is starting to unravel, we have seen behind the curtain too many times for it to be a credible solution to stop the plastic crisis.
“Production limits on plastic, bans on the vast array of single use items, safe testing of chemicals included in any products or packaging and using systems of refill or natural plastic alternatives. These are the measures that must be introduced globally to ensure we see an end to this crisis. I hope we see such in the final draft of the UN Plastic Treaty in November.”
