Soft plastic packaging, notoriously challenging to recycle, is being given a new lease of life thanks to a joint project between Tesco, Veolia and Groundwork.
Specifically, commonly discarded items such as crisp bags and bread bags are being transformed into benches, patio decking and other garden furniture for National Health Service (NHS) community gardens.
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By GlobalData
With the help of Veolia’s innovative recycling technology, these difficult-to-recycle materials can be processed back into usable products.
The recycled furniture will be donated to the NHS Property Services (NHSPS) Social Prescribing Programme, which creates green spaces around healthcare centres for patients and the local community.
This initiative addresses two important issues: reducing plastic waste and improving public health through access to nature.
Thousands of soft plastic items collected by Tesco will not end up in landfill but will be transformed into functional furniture.
This is in line with Tesco’s 4R packaging strategy, which focuses on removing, reducing, reusing and recycling plastics.
Access to nature through NHSPS community gardens can contribute to reduced stress, improved mental health and increased physical activity.
The first garden with recycled furniture made from soft plastic pieces collected by Tesco will be created at the John Scott Health Centre in the British capital London.
Further projects are planned at various locations in the UK.
This initiative is an example of successful cooperation between:
Tesco: Donate collected soft plastic pieces and promote responsible packaging practices.
Veolia: Providing innovative recycling technology to transform this plastic waste into usable materials.
Basis: Coordinating the project by leveraging landscape architecture expertise to design sustainable spaces.
NHSPS: Implementation of the Social Prescribing Programme and integration of recycled furniture into the community gardens.
“This is a great example of innovative thinking to minimise plastic waste while improving much-needed open spaces in local communities,” said Graham Duxbury, CEO of Groundwork in the UK.
“We are proud to play our part in bringing this project to life with our landscape architects’ sustainable design expertise and nature-based solutions and look forward to seeing the benefits it brings to communities and the environment.”
The project represents a significant step forward in combating plastic waste, promoting public health and fostering collaboration between the private and public sectors.
