Asda CSR part 2 - Carrier Bags, Packaging, Recycling and Food Waster
Last updated 26/05/2009 11:05:11
Asda CSR - Recycling and Food Waster
Carrier Bags
To save more for its customers Asda has chosen to incentivise customers who choose a re-usable bag instead of supporting the Governments proposal to charge for carrier bags.
The store has promoted the removal of single use carriers from all of its checkouts by encouraging customers to opt for its range of ‘bags for life' and reusable bags as a sustainable and affordable alternative.
In addition to reducing their use, the store's aim is to limit the environmental impact of the bags themselves by decreasing their size and increasing their recycled content. Asda actually source the plastic material it uses from its in–store recycling collections.
Asda believes that all of these initiatives will help it reach the Courtauld's voluntary commitment to reduce the environmental impact of plastic bags by 25% by the end of 2008.
Alongside this, the store runs the ‘Go Green for Schools' scheme, whereby local customers are rewarded with a point every time they reuse a carrier bag, or Bag for Life; these points can be given to local schools who, in turn, can claim ‘green' prizes.
Packaging
In a bid to reduce waste seriously the store has an on-going work effort with its suppliers to dramatically cut the amount of packaging used on all products.
Last year the store embarked on a complete review of all its own label packaging to reach its target of 25% reduction – the savings help significantly reduce the amount of household rubbish our customers have to throw away each year.
Asda is also calling on central government to harmonise all local authority collection schemes and provide the necessary investment needed as more customers are frustrated by the difficulties of finding recycling facilities in their areas. Also, the store is calling for an end to the recycling postcode lottery.
Despite 92% of Asda packaging being recyclable, the store recognises very few local authorities are able to collect it all, which means thousands of tonnes of packaging needlessly ends up in landfill, when it could've easily been recycled.