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Asda launches zero waste to landfill target
Supermarket to redesign own label packs to cut waste
Asda is to stop sending any waste produced by its 307 food stores to landfill sites, it has announced today.
The move comes as the British Retail Consortium (BRC) slams the Environment Agency (EA) for preaching to the converted in its calls for retailers to reduce packaging and waste.
The supermarket has also embarked on a review of its own label packaging to reduce the amount of household rubbish that shoppers throw away each year.
The commitment means that by 2010 everything Asda disposes of at the back of its stores will be recycled, reused or composted instead of being sent to landfill.
In addition, all its Asda brand products will be redesigned over the next 18 months, with the aim of reducing the weight and volume of packaging by at least 10%.
Asda has already reduced the thickness of the plastic of salad bags by 15%, and removed a cardboard sleeve on a selection of its ready meals.
David Cheesewright, chief operating officer at Asda, said: "We're determined to stop sending stuff from our stores to landfill sites. We also want to help our customers reduce the amount of rubbish they throw away each week.
"We will recycle, reuse or compost all of the waste we produce, and will cut our packaging by at least 10%. It's a massive commitment that's set to have a huge impact on the environment. We hope our competitors will follow our lead so that together we can help make landfill sites redundant."
Responding to the EA's latest
Spotlight Report
the BRC said all major retailers have committed to reducing the amount of food and packaging waste as part of the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy (FISS) and many have already instituted programmes designed to trim down packaging and boost recycling. They are also investigating innovative ways of making further cuts.
BRC environment director, Nigel Smith, said: The Environment Agency is picking on the wrong target. As the report itself acknowledges, retailers are already taking this issue very seriously. Many have undertaken waste reduction programmes and the industry as a whole is looking at ways of making further improvements.
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