Industrially compostable packs have “no value” – Tesco
Packaging News have been told by Stephen Pizer, Tesco Packaging Technical Manager, that the supermarket "does not see the value" in using packs that can only be industrially composted.
Speaking a week after Head of Waste and Recycling, Sion Stanfield told a conference that the group was "not taking compostable packaging any further".
"We are open to talking to people and to reviewing new materials, but we want to make sure we are not complicating matters by adding materials." Pizer said, adding, "We do not see the value in using packaging that's only industrially compostable, Local authorities do not want to touch it as it can contaminate existing recycling schemes."
Innovia currently supply compostable cellulose-based based Natureflex for packaging of some of the Tesco organic produce range, chosen as they are home compostable.
Stanfield told delegates at the LARAC conference in Liverpool last week that "Tesco is not taking compostable packaging any further".
Tesco is not the first supermarket to express doubts over the use of compostable plastics or controversial bioplastics. Other supermarkets, including Asda, have decided not to use degradable plastics stating concerns over their effect on the recycling stream for non-compostable materials.
