Tetra Pak and WWF-UK team up for new renewability innovation campaign
Last updated 5/6/2010 3:02:21 PM
Tetra Pak and WWF-UK team up for new renewability innovation campaign
Food processing and packaging solutions company Tetra Pak and WWF-UK have teamed-up campaigning a three-year push to raise awareness and understanding of renewability, and the importance of choosing goods made from responsibly managed renewable sources.
Under the partnership, a nationwide search - 'Your Renewable Idea' - will be launched calling for ideas and solutions to encourage people to purchase goods made from renewable sources.
Ideas can be submitted online via www.renewableidea.co.uk for a public vote. Up to £25,000 will go towards making the winning idea a reality, with the support of Tetra Pak and WWF-UK.
For every vote and idea submitted, Tetra Pak will donate 10p and £1 respectively, to WWF-UK. The funds generated will support a project to help conserve the forest habitat of a number of rare species including the Persian leopard.
A new study commissioned by Tetra Pak found that whilst 82% of UK adults believe individual actions can make some difference to the environment, these are not reflected in food shopping habits where green credentials come 4th on the list of product criteria below quality, value and special offers.
Rupert Maitland-Titterton, director of environment and communications at Tetra Pak UK, said: "Our partnership with WWF aims to help people understand what renewable means, why it matters and how they really can make a difference. And we are calling for ideas - anything from an inventive shoppers' loyalty scheme, an iPhone app that gives you a personal 'renewability rating' or a children's education programme - to help solve this challenge together".
The survey of 2,170 adults in the UK, commissioned by Tetra Pak, revealed that from a given list, value for money (97%), good quality (96%), and special offers (86%) are the most important factors when shopping for food. Environmentally friendly (61%) and fair-trade/ethical (56%) credentials came 4th and 5th, followed by brand recognition (50%) and innovation (28%). The research also found that, whilst 80% of adults claimed to know what a renewable resource is, just over half (55%) accurately identified the definition.
Naturalist and TV wildlife presenter, Steve Backshall, is supporting the campaign, he said: "We all use an incredible amount of stuff, and when we're done with it, it gets dumped. Would anybody out there look forward to a future of vast overflowing landfills, oceans filled with floating plastic, desperate plans to bury trash or fire it into space?! Of course not. Well there is one simple phrase you can start off with. Renewability: the fourth R. Reduce, reuse, recycle, choose renewable... supporting Tetra Pak's campaign with WWF-UK is the perfect way to get started!"
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