Tesco, a major British retailer, is stepping up its sustainability game by teaming up with Keep Sea Blue to introduce a groundbreaking initiative in its fresh fish packaging. Beginning next week, select fresh salmon, haddock, cod, and sea bass products will be presented in trays crafted with at least 30% recycled coastal plastic. This innovative approach aims to repurpose discarded plastic collected from beaches and coastlines surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
The strategic collaboration with Keep Sea Blue, a non-profit organization focusing on plastic waste management, is set to prevent approximately 500 metric tonnes of plastic from entering the environment annually. The plastic materials, including Polypropylene, PET, Polyethylene, among others, are sourced from at-risk coastal areas, such as beaches and communities within 10 km from the sea. By intercepting this plastic before it reaches the Mediterranean Sea, Tesco aims to contribute significantly to curbing ocean plastic pollution.
The entire process, from collection to processing, is executed with meticulous transparency and traceability, certified by Keep Sea Blue. Volunteer groups engaged in beach clean-ups, local authorities, non-profits, and private sector entities collaborate to recover the plastic. The PET component of the waste undergoes careful sorting, grinding, washing, and recycling to transform it into food-grade packaging materials.
Tesco’s commitment to sustainability is further emphasized by the use of its customized Blockchain Platform, powered by Oracle Blockchain technology. This platform ensures the monitoring and certification of plastic circularity, guaranteeing full traceability of materials involved in the packaging.
Sarah Bradbury, Tesco Quality Director, expressed the company’s dedication to minimizing new plastic usage, stating, “Re-using coastal plastic in our fish packaging is one way we can do that and at the same time keep it out of the oceans.”
Lefteris Bastakis, Founder of Keep Sea Blue, applauded Tesco’s proactive contribution, emphasizing the collective effort required to combat mismanaged plastic waste. This initiative aligns with Tesco’s broader sustainability goals, emphasizing environmental responsibility and a commitment to a more sustainable future.
