SugaRich: Sustainable Animal Feed from Recycled Bread, Biscuits & Cereals

Discover how SugaRich recycles surplus bread, biscuits and cereals into sustainable animal feed for UK farmers. 

A cost-effective, eco-friendly feed solution.

SugaRich: Sustainable Animal Feed from Recycled Bread, Biscuits and Cereals

When it comes to tackling food waste in the UK, there is one company leading the way in transforming surplus food into something useful. 

SugaRich has been turning unsold bread, biscuits, breakfast cereals and cakes into high-quality sustainable animal feed for over 50 years.

What Does SugaRich Do?

SugaRich specialises in recycling bakery waste into farm feed. The company collects surplus food products that cannot be sold for human consumption – whether due to overproduction, packaging errors or minor damage – and repurposes them into safe, nutritious animal feed.

By working directly with food manufacturers, SugaRich helps ensure these products avoid landfill or energy recovery and instead contribute to a circular farming economy.

Why Bakery Waste Works as Farm Feed

Bread, biscuits and cereals are naturally high in carbohydrates and energy. This makes them an ideal ingredient for livestock feed, especially for cattle and pigs. Instead of relying on imported maize or other crops, farmers can access a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative.

The benefits include:

Environmental sustainability – reducing food waste and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

UK farming support – offering affordable feed ingredients produced locally.

Resource efficiency – making the most of surplus bakery goods that would otherwise be wasted.

The Recycling Process

At SugaRich’s processing facilities, surplus bread, cereals and biscuits are:

Collected from food manufacturers across the UK and Ireland.

Sorted and checked to ensure quality and safety.

Processed, dried and milled into a consistent feed ingredient.

Mixed into balanced feeds suitable for a range of farm animals.

Every step of the process is carefully managed to meet high nutritional standards and provide a reliable product for farmers.

Why Farmers Choose SugaRich Feed

For UK farmers, SugaRich is more than just a feed supplier. It’s a partner in sustainable farming. The company’s feeds:

Deliver consistent nutrition for livestock.

Help farms reduce reliance on imported feed.

Support the wider goal of lowering the carbon footprint of agriculture.

By choosing SugaRich, farmers play a direct role in the fight against food waste while maintaining productivity and cost-effectiveness on their farms.

SugaRich: Leading the Way in Recycling Bakery Waste

In an era where food waste and environmental impact are major challenges, SugaRich proves that practical solutions already exist. By turning surplus bread, biscuits and cereals into sustainable animal feed, the company is helping the UK move towards a greener, more responsible food system.

For those searching for sustainable animal feed suppliers in the UK, or wanting to know more about recycling bakery waste into farm feed, SugaRich is a name worth remembering.

I first became aware of SugaRich at the recent UK Dairy Day. I saw a display of broken biscuits and was immediately reminded of the House of Lancaster, the company that sells broken biscuits and biscuit over-runs to the public. (House of Lancaster's Broken Biscuit Boxes: A Treat for Biscuit Lovers https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2024/06/house-of-lancasters-broken-biscuit.html)

But it quickly became clear that the biscuits, cakes and breakfast cereals also on display on their trade stand were destined to feed farm animals and were not for we humans to be dipping in our cuppas!

You can learn more about SugaRich  by visiting their website https://www.sugarich.co.uk.

How to Recycle Water at Home to Keep Your Vegetable Patch Green and Lush

As summer heats up and hosepipe bans become more common across the UK, keeping your vegetable patch well-watered can be a bit of a challenge. 

Thankfully, there are plenty of clever ways to recycle water in your home and garden to nourish your crops while saving money and protecting the environment. 

Here's how to keep your patch green, lush and productive, without wasting a drop.

1. Harvest Rainwater

This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to recycle water. Fitting a water butt to your downpipe lets you collect rainwater from your roof. Use it to water your vegetables, clean garden tools or top up your pond. Some councils even offer discounts on water butts, so it’s worth checking.

Tip: Keep your water butt covered to prevent algae growth and stop mosquitoes from breeding.

2. Reuse Grey Water

Grey water is gently used water from your sink, shower, bath or washing machine. It can be reused in your garden, provided it’s free from harsh chemicals.

Dos:

Use eco-friendly soaps and detergents.

Collect water in a bucket while waiting for your shower to warm up.

Let bath water cool and siphon it out to water the garden.

Don’ts:

Avoid using kitchen water that contains grease or food particles.

Don’t store grey water too long, best to use it within 24 hours.

3. Repurpose Cooking Water

Water used to boil vegetables, pasta or rice is rich in nutrients that can benefit your garden. Let it cool, then pour it onto the soil near the roots of your veg plants.

Note: Don’t use salted water, salt can damage your plants and soil over time.

4. Capture “Hidden” Water

It’s surprising how much clean water we waste daily. Consider:

Putting a bowl in your kitchen sink to catch rinse water.

Collecting leftover drinking water from glasses or pet bowls.

Positioning a bucket outside to catch condensation from air conditioners or dehumidifiers.

Every drop adds up.

5. Mulch and Soil Improvement

While not technically water recycling, using mulch helps your soil retain recycled water better. Apply a thick layer of compost, straw, bark or grass clippings around your plants to reduce evaporation.

Also, improving your soil with organic matter boosts its water-holding capacity, so your reused water goes further.

6. Plant Strategically

Grow drought-tolerant vegetables such as courgettes, Swiss chard, beetroot, and runner beans. Plant in clusters to create shade and reduce water loss from the soil surface.

A Note on Safety

Avoid using grey water on crops you’ll eat raw (like salad leaves), especially if it comes into contact with the edible part of the plant. Stick to watering the soil—not the leaves—and rinse veg thoroughly before eating.

Final Thoughts

Recycling water isn’t just smart, it’s essential in an age of rising temperatures and unpredictable weather. By harvesting rain, reusing grey water and making small tweaks to your routine, you can keep your vegetable patch thriving through even the driest spells.

Also, it will help reduce your water bill, too.

Have you tried any of these techniques? Share your home water-saving tips in the comments!

How to Recycle and Upcycle in Your Kitchen on a Budget

In a world where sustainability and saving money are more important than ever, learning to recycle and upcycle in your kitchen is a brilliant way to reduce waste, get creative, and cut back on spending.

 Whether you're living on a tight budget or just want to do your bit for the planet, here are some simple, practical ideas to turn your kitchen into a greener, cleaner, and more resourceful space.

Recycle Smart: What Goes Where?

1. Know Your Council’s Rules

Start by checking what your local authority accepts in your kerbside recycling. Not all councils take the same items – for instance, some won’t recycle certain plastics or Tetra Paks. Understanding the do's and don’ts avoids contamination and helps your waste actually get recycled.

2. Rinse Before Recycling

A quick rinse of yoghurt pots, tin cans or jars prevents bad smells and pest problems, and ensures the items are suitable for recycling.

3. Compost Your Scraps

Don’t bin your peels, coffee grounds, or eggshells – compost them! If you don’t have a garden, look into a bokashi bin or countertop compost system. Many councils also offer subsidised compost bins.

Upcycling: Give Old Items New Life

1. Glass Jars Galore

Washed jam jars and pasta sauce bottles can become:

Pantry storage for rice, lentils, or spices

Drinking glasses or smoothie jars

Mini vases for kitchen herbs or flowers

Homemade gift containers for chutneys or infused oils

2. Cans, Tins & Tubs

Turn baked bean tins or large food cans into:

Herb pots (just add drainage holes)

Utensil holders

Lanterns with punched holes and tea lights inside

3. Bread Bags and Cereal Liners

These can be reused to store sandwiches or baked goods, or even as piping bags when baking. Wash and dry them thoroughly before reuse.

Budget-Friendly Kitchen Hacks

1. Save and Regrow

Some vegetable scraps can be regrown right on your windowsill:

Spring onions and leeks regrow in a glass of water

Lettuce hearts and celery bases will sprout again in a week

Herb cuttings like basil and mint can root in water and be replanted

2. Freeze Leftovers and Scraps

Keep a freezer bag for veg peelings to make homemade stock

Freeze overripe bananas for smoothies or banana bread or for a chilled snack

Freeze herbs in ice cube trays with oil or butter for easy cooking later

3. Repurpose Old Tea Towels and Clothing

Turn worn-out tea towels or cotton shirts into:

Reusable kitchen cloths

Napkins for picnics or packed lunches

Bowl covers with a bit of elastic sewn in

Make DIY Cleaning Products

Instead of buying plastic bottles of cleaning sprays, why not make your own?

All-purpose spray: Mix vinegar, lemon peel and water in a spray bottle

Baking soda scrub: Great for freshening up sinks and cutting boards

Coffee grounds: Use as a natural scrub or deodoriser for your fridge or bins

Final Thoughts

Recycling and upcycling don’t require a huge investment, just a bit of creativity, some organisation, and a willingness to rethink waste. By making these small changes in your kitchen, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and create a more resourceful and sustainable home. 

Plus, it’s surprisingly satisfying to see what you can create from what would’ve ended up in the bin!

Warning to Small Businesses Over New Food Waste Regulations

Is this illegal? You'd better check

Firms face fines for not separating food waste, a leading lawyer warns.

Businesses could face fines if they fail to separate their food waste from other recyclables and rubbish, an environmental lawyer has warned.

New legislation that requires businesses with as few as ten employees to follow strict waste rules has flown under the radar, says Craig Burman, of commercial law firm Schofield Sweeney, who has been contacted by a number of companies, unclear about what the regulations mean for them and the consequences of failing to comply.

Under the Government’s new ‘Simpler Recycling’ regulations, which came into force in March this year, employers with ten employees or more must separate all food waste, from excess canteen fare to teabags and packed lunch leftovers, from other recyclables and rubbish, before it is collected.

Mr Burman, who heads the Environmental and Regulatory team for Schofield Sweeney,told That's Food and Drink: “The regulations are designed to reduce waste and make recycling easier and more consistent across England, which is obviously a good thing.

“But unfortunately lots of businesses haven’t heard about the new rules and for many ‘Simpler Recycling’ is proving to be anything but simple.

“Implications like how to keep food waste separate in a busy workplace environment are of serious concern, and firms are worried their employees’ tea club or ‘meal deal’ leftovers could land the company in trouble.”

He is urging companies of all sizes to ensure all management and staff are aware of their responsibilities under the new legislation.

Under the Simpler Recycling regulations:

Card and paper must be separated from glass, plastic and metal for recycling, to recycle them all together, businesses must prepare a written assessment to explain why they cannot be separated.

All food waste must be disposed of separately

Packaging, cans or bottles should contain no remnants of food or drink

General unrecyclable waste, like used paper towels, must also be put in separate bins

Craig Burman added: “The legislation applies to every employer with a workforce of ten-plus and includes landlords and facilities management companies, schools, and community organisations, like churches and charities.

“Companies which employ fewer than ten full-time employees will also have to comply with the legislation from March 31st, 2027.

“Nobody wants to fall foul of the regulations and risk being faced with an Environment Agency compliance notice or, ultimately, a fine, so I’d advise them to take note of the regulations and if in doubt seek additional guidance.”

www.schofieldsweeney.co.uk

Why Every Eatery Should Compost Food Waste and Grow Their Own Herbs and Microgreens

In an era where sustainability is more than just a buzzword, food businesses, whether pubs, hotels, restaurants, cafés or food vans, have an incredible opportunity to lead the charge. 

One simple, powerful step that every establishment can take is composting food waste and using it to grow fresh produce like herbs and microgreens. 

It’s practical, eco-friendly and increasingly expected by today’s environmentally conscious customers.

Turning Waste into Worth

The hospitality industry generates tonnes of food waste each year. Whether it's vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, fruit offcuts, or plate scrapings, much of this can be composted rather than thrown in the bin. When organic waste goes to landfill, it breaks down anaerobically and releases methane—a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting, on the other hand, recycles that waste into rich, fertile soil.

This compost can then be used to feed herb gardens, potted plants or microgreens grown on-site or nearby. What was once waste becomes nourishment for future ingredients, creating a virtuous cycle that cuts waste disposal costs and benefits the environment.

Growing Fresh Flavour

Herbs like basil, mint, parsley, and thyme—and microgreens such as radish, pea shoots, and mustard cress—are relatively easy to grow in small spaces. A pub garden, a rooftop terrace, or even a windowsill can become a flourishing green space. These homegrown elements add a burst of freshness to your dishes, and customers can taste the difference.

It also creates a brilliant marketing point. Diners love the idea of food that’s grown on-site—hyperlocal, sustainable, and nurtured with care. “Grown right here” is a phrase that adds authenticity and charm to any menu.

Budget-Friendly Sustainability

Setting up a small composting and growing operation doesn't have to break the bank. Simple compost bins, a bit of space, and some time are all it takes to start. Over time, this can even help cut down on your fresh herb purchasing costs, which can add up, especially for high-volume kitchens.

Food vans and small cafés might not have garden space, but with a few containers or vertical planters, even the smallest business can participate. Some even partner with local community gardens or schools to turn composted waste into a shared growing project.

Setting a Greener Example

Customers are paying attention. Many actively seek out businesses that take sustainability seriously. Composting food waste and growing your own produce sends a strong message that you care about your impact on the planet. It shows a commitment to reducing waste, supporting biodiversity, and offering a better, fresher product.

And it's not just good for the planet—it’s good for staff morale too. Involving team members in sustainability initiatives builds pride and ownership. Chefs can experiment with fresh herbs grown just metres from the kitchen. Servers can share the story behind the garnish on a cocktail. It becomes part of your brand identity.

Whether you run a cosy pub in the countryside, a trendy city café, a busy food van, or a luxury hotel, composting food waste and growing your own herbs and microgreens is a no-brainer. It’s cost-effective, environmentally responsible, and offers a distinctive edge in a competitive food industry. It’s not just good practice—it’s the future of food service.

So why not turn today’s scraps into tomorrow’s flavours?

Grease to Green: How to Recycle Used Cooking Oil the Right Way

Whether you're frying up a full English or whipping up a Sunday roast, cooking oil is a kitchen essential – but what happens after it’s done its job?

Pouring it down the sink can cause fatbergs and clogged pipes, and tossing it in the bin isn't much better. 

The good news? Used cooking oil can be recovered, recycled, and even turned into something useful – like biodiesel or animal feed.

Here’s everything you need to know about recovering and recycling your used cooking oil in the UK.

Why You Shouldn't Pour It Down the Drain

Used oil might look harmless, but when it cools, it solidifies. Combined with other waste, it forms massive fatbergs that block sewers – a costly problem for water companies and local councils. Even small amounts poured down the sink can contribute to this, so it’s vital to dispose of it properly.

What Happens When Cooking Oil Is Recycled?

Used cooking oil, when collected correctly, is cleaned, filtered, and processed. The most common use? Biodiesel – a renewable energy source that powers vehicles and reduces reliance on fossil fuels. It can also be repurposed for:

Animal feed (in regulated conditions)

Industrial lubricants

Soap and cosmetics production

Composting and anaerobic digestion

How to Recycle Used Cooking Oil at Home

Cool It Down: Let the oil cool completely after cooking.

Strain and Store: Use a sieve or coffee filter to remove food particles. Pour the clean oil into a container with a secure lid (an old plastic bottle works well).

Find a Recycling Point: Many councils offer cooking oil recycling at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). Some even accept it in separate containers with food waste. Check your local council's website for specific guidance.

Use a Collection Scheme: Some eco-friendly companies and charities offer cooking oil collection services – particularly for bulk users like restaurants or community kitchens. A few even offer to exchange it for vouchers or donations.

Can You Reuse Cooking Oil?

Yes – to a point. Oil can be reused a few times for deep frying if it’s strained and stored properly. However, once it becomes dark, smells off, or smokes heavily when heated, it’s time to dispose of it.

For Businesses: Commercial Cooking Oil Recycling

If you run a food business in the UK, it's a legal requirement to dispose of waste oil correctly. Licensed waste carriers like Olleco, Living Fuels, and Quatra UK provide collection services and often offer traceability certificates to prove your oil has been recycled responsibly.

Eco Tips for Everyday Cooking

Use less oil: Consider air fryers or non-stick pans that need minimal grease.

Use recyclable oils: Some vegetable oils are easier to recycle than others (rapeseed oil, for instance, is UK-grown and widely repurposed).

Store it separately: Keep a used oil container handy so you can build up a batch for recycling rather than disposing bit by bit.

Final Thoughts

Cooking oil might seem small-scale, but when millions of households pour it down the drain, the environmental and infrastructure costs add up fast. By recycling your oil, you’re not just protecting pipes – you’re helping create renewable energy and reducing waste.

So next time you fry, think before you pour – and turn that grease into something green.

https://www.olleco.co.uk

https://livingfuels.co.uk

https://uk.quatra.com

How Your Food Business Can Be Better at Recycling

Running a food business or restaurant means juggling a hundred tasks at once—but one area that deserves more attention is recycling. 

As sustainability becomes increasingly important to customers and communities alike, restaurants that take waste management seriously not only reduce their environmental impact, but also improve their brand image and operational efficiency.

Here are practical ways your food business can step up its recycling game:

1. Audit Your Waste

Before making changes, understand what you’re throwing away. Conduct a waste audit to assess the volume of recyclable vs. non-recyclable waste. Look for:

Cardboard from deliveries

Glass bottles and jars

Tins and cans

Plastic containers

Food waste

This helps identify what can be recycled and what can potentially be reduced or reused.

2. Separate and Label Bins Clearly

Recycling fails when the system is confusing. Make it easy for your team with:

Colour-coded bins (e.g., blue for paper, green for glass)

Clear signage with pictures

Staff training so everyone knows what goes where

Don’t forget to place bins in accessible spots—especially near food prep and packaging areas.

3. Work With Local Recycling Partners

Not all councils and waste services recycle the same materials. Partner with a reliable local recycling provider who can guide you on what’s accepted and offer regular collection schedules. Some may even help with composting food waste.

4. Recycle Cooking Oil

Used cooking oil doesn’t belong down the drain. There are companies that collect and recycle it into biodiesel. This not only prevents plumbing issues but turns waste into fuel.

5. Switch to Recyclable or Compostable Packaging

If you offer takeaway or delivery, choose packaging that’s recyclable or compostable. Avoid polystyrene and opt for:

Paper-based containers

Compostable cutlery

Recyclable cups and lids

Make sure packaging is labelled clearly so customers know how to dispose of it properly.

6. Encourage Staff and Customer Involvement

Sustainability works best when it’s a team effort. Involve staff in recycling initiatives, reward good habits, and communicate your efforts to customers. You could even add signage about your eco-initiatives or offer discounts to customers who bring reusable containers.

7. Donate Surplus Food

Reducing waste is as important as recycling. Partner with local food banks, shelters or community fridges to donate safe-to-eat surplus food. It’s a meaningful way to give back and minimise what goes in the bin.

8. Track Your Progress

Use monthly check-ins to track recycling rates, review what’s working, and set new goals. Celebrate milestones with your team and share your achievements with customers via social media.

Final Thoughts Recycling isn’t just a tick-box exercise—it’s an ongoing opportunity to make your business greener, more efficient, and more in tune with customer values. By starting small and building momentum, your food business can make a real difference for the planet and your bottom line.

Why Non-Recyclable Food Pouches Should Be Banned

In recent years, the convenience of single-use food pouches has made them a staple in households across the world. 

From baby food and pet food and treats to ready-made sauces and energy gels, these pouches offer a mess-free and portable way to consume food on the go. 

However, the environmental cost of non-recyclable food pouches is far too great to ignore.

The Environmental Impact

1. Difficult to Recycle

Most food pouches are made from multi-layered plastic and aluminium, designed to keep food fresh and lightweight. 

However, this very design makes them nearly impossible to recycle. Unlike single-material plastics, these composite materials require specialised recycling processes that most facilities are not equipped to handle. As a result, the majority of these pouches end up in landfill or are incinerated, contributing to pollution.

2. Contributing to Plastic Waste

Non-recyclable food pouches are a major contributor to the global plastic waste crisis. According to environmental reports, millions of these pouches are discarded daily, with many finding their way into oceans and waterways. Marine life often mistakes them for food, leading to ingestion, suffocation, and death.

3. Long Decomposition Time

Unlike biodegradable or compostable materials, plastic food pouches take hundreds of years to break down. Even when they do degrade, they fragment into microplastics that infiltrate ecosystems, harming wildlife and potentially entering the human food chain.

The Health Risks

1. Microplastic Contamination

Studies have shown that microplastics are now present in drinking water, soil, and even the air we breathe. By continuing to use non-recyclable food pouches, we are exacerbating the problem, increasing the risk of microplastic ingestion, which has been linked to potential health concerns.

2. Chemical Leaching

Many plastic pouches contain chemicals such as phthalates and BPA, which can leach into food over time. These chemicals have been associated with hormone disruption, developmental issues in children, and other health problems. By banning non-recyclable pouches, we can encourage the use of safer, more sustainable alternatives.

The Need for a Ban

1. Encouraging Sustainable Alternatives

Banning non-recyclable food pouches would push manufacturers to develop environmentally friendly packaging solutions. Many companies have already started producing recyclable, compostable, or refillable alternatives, proving that a shift is possible.

2. Reducing Waste Management Costs

Governments and local councils spend millions dealing with plastic waste. By eliminating non-recyclable pouches, we can reduce the burden on waste management systems and focus on truly sustainable recycling efforts.

3. Protecting Future Generations

The plastic crisis is not just an environmental issue—it’s a legacy we leave for future generations. By taking action now, we can prevent further damage to our planet and ensure a healthier future for all.

Conclusion

The convenience of non-recyclable food pouches does not outweigh the environmental and health risks they pose. A ban on these wasteful products is a necessary step towards a cleaner, greener future. Governments, businesses, and consumers must work together to demand and support sustainable packaging solutions. The time to act is now—before the damage becomes irreversible.

Innovative Circular Grocery Start-up weekly.shop Receives Investment From Low Carbon Innovation Fund 2 And Turquoise Capital.

weekly.shop (https://www.weekly.shop), the innovative grocery start-up which aims at eliminating throwaway packaging from grocery shopping has secured investment from the Low carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF2) and Turquoise Capital, bringing their total funding to date to over £350k.

The investment comes alongside angels, including key early and senior individuals from the likes of graze.com, Harry’s and Hello Fresh. weekly.shop are also current recipients of a UK Research and Innovation grant to fight plastic waste.

LCIF2 supports innovative businesses dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and minimising environmental impact. Turquoise, the fund manager for LCIF2, shares this commitment to a greener future, specialising in sustainability-focused ventures. On this occasion they have further invested themselves alongside LCIF2.

weekly.shop’s service is the first of its kind in the UK and brings consumers a frictionless way to buy zero waste groceries. It’s a much needed solution, according to Greenpeace figures, nearly 40% of all plastic packaging waste comes from grocery shopping (that's a whopping 886,000 tonnes - 97bn items per year), and only 12% of it is ever recycled.

The weekly.shop pilot is soon to launch in London and this investment will help drive this key development phase as the first customers try the service (the waiting list already has over 750 eager shoppers on it).

A B-Corp Pending, the start-up was the brainchild of cofounders Paul Cooke and Mark Holland, who met when both were in the founding team at successful pet food start-up, tails.com (acquired by Nestle in 2018). As parents of younger children, they were motivated to help build a better future for their (and everybody else’s) kids.

"We’re delighted such experienced and aligned investors have shown belief and conviction in our vision for a new type of grocery shopping. This investment from LCIF2 and Turquoise Capital will help us bring that vision to life" said Cooke.

Holland added, “We’re working to bring about system change and to have large scale impact, having investors who also want to have this kind of impact is very important to us.”

Kevin Murphy, director at Turquoise, commented: “weekly.shop provides a service which enables customers to buy and consume their weekly shop with no packaging waste. We are delighted to make this investment as it fits very well in the investment strategy of LCIF2 into technologies and services helping to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) as there are huge savings to be made by avoiding throwaway packaging on food deliveries.”

Tesco has 425 million reasons for customers to recycle

Customers shopping at Tesco are going to soon see changes across its own brand milk, as it the works with its milk dairies to make milk bottles even easier to recycle. 

By removing coloured plastic and changing blue, red and green milk caps to a clear alternative, on some 425 million bottles of milk annually, Tesco is improving the quality of recovered material from household waste and enabling the cap to be recycled back into new milk bottles. Customers are encouraged to squash or crush empty bottles, replacing the original lid before recycling to ensure it's not lost or discarded. 

Coloured plastic currently has to be processed separately from clear packaging, so this simple, yet effective change, means every year 3,900 extra tonnes of recycled plastic will be able to go back into making new milk bottles, a process which can be repeated each and every time a customer recycles it. 

The move will be seen in all Tesco stores, across 4 pint, 2 pint and 1 pint plastic milk bottles. However, different types of milk, whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed, will still be easy for staff and shoppers of identify, thanks to coloured labels around the main bottle.

James Waddy, who is Category Director for Dairy at Tesco, said: “Ensuring our packaging is as sustainable as possible is very important to us, and customer feedback on our trials of these new clear milk caps was overwhelmingly positive. Of course, we'll continue to look for ways to improve the packaging of all of our products, thus helping to make it even easier for customers to recycle at home.”

Tesco follows its 4Rs strategy when it comes to plastic and packaging, aiming to remove plastic where possible, reduce where it can't, reuse more and recycle what is left. 

Earlier this month, Tesco announced a trial of fresh mince ‘pillow packs’, which use 70% less plastic and are fully recyclable at in-store soft plastic collection points.                                           

To date, Tesco has removed around 2.2 billion pieces of plastic from its UK business, including: 

200+ million bags from Tesco.com deliveries

100+ million extra lids from products such as wipes, creams, yogurts and desserts

33 million pieces of plastic from bakery bread and doughnuts 

Incidentally here is the link to the story about the fresh mince trial that we carried a few weeks ago:

https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2023/08/tesco-unveils-fresh-mince-pillow-packs.html

Green first for Morrisons as it becomes first UK supermarket to introduce coffee pod recycling points

There's some exciting news for ecologically-minded shoppers as Morrisons is becoming the first UK supermarket to introduce coffee pod recycling points at its stores.

The return bins from coffee pod recycling scheme ‘Podback’ is launching in 29 stores this month. 

Used aluminium and plastic pods will be turned into new products including drinks cans, plastic crates and garden furniture.

The move which is being trialled in 29 stores is in partnership with Podback, the specialist pod recycling service. 

In an effort to make coffee pod recycling even easier and more convenient, Morrisons is trialling a new drop-off service which allows customers to collect their Podback recycling bags, fill them up with their used pods, and recycle in a dedicated bin which will be sited at the front of the store.

Last year, Morrisons announced it was the first supermarket to support Podback and remains the only one to provide free coffee pod recycling bags for its customers to collect in all of its stores. The recycling bags can be filled at home and be taken to one of 6,500 Yodel drop off points around the UK with all postage covered by Podback. 

Over the last year, it's estimated 800 million coffee pods were bought in the UK, making it even more important than ever for customers to have an easier route to recycle their pods.  

Morrisons is also set to become a dedicated Podback member, meaning Morrisons own-brand pods can all be recycled through the scheme, besides 24 other pod brands across the coffee sector. 

Customers need to use correctly colour coded bags, there's one for aluminium pods and one for plastic pods. This is because pods are separated and sent to different recycling processing plants in the UK.

Through Podback, used aluminium pods are turned back into aluminium ingots for new products, like beverage cans, and the used plastic coffee pods are turned into other plastic items,  including building products and plastic crates. And there's more! The used coffee grounds go through a special anaerobic digestion process, which makes useful biogas and soil improver.

Natasha Cook, who is the Sustainable Packaging and Plastics Manager at Morrisons, said: “We’re excited to be launching this trial with Podback as we look to make it even easier for our customers who want to brew fresh coffee at home to recycle their used coffee pods. Now they can grab a Podback bag, fill it at home and just drop it off on their next store trip.”  

Rick Hindley, the Executive Director at Podback, said: “Morrisons was the first supermarket to become a supporter of Podback and we’re thrilled that they’re now set to become a member; enabling their own brand pods to be recycled through the service and working with us to further improve access to coffee pod recycling by trialling a new drop-off system. 

"This is another exciting step forward towards providing consumers with easy and convenient ways to recycle their used coffee pods. We also welcome and encourage other retailers to join Podback and make it even easier for consumers to recycle pods in the future.”

Morrisons stores across the UK currently offer soft plastic, battery and inkjet recycling facilities. Since 2017 Morrisons has reduced its own brand plastic packaging in its 499 stores by over 10,000 tonnes a year.

The following Morrisons stores now offer Podback drop off points with more stores to follow:

Aldershot

Letchworth

Aylesbury

Melton Mowbray

Banbury

Milton Keynes

Basingstoke

Northampton – Kettering Road

Bedford

Northampton – Victoria Promenade

Bracknell

Reading

Carterton

St Albans

Corby

Shefford

Farnborough

Watford

Fleet

Wellingborough

High Wycombe

Welwyn Garden City

Hoddersdon

Weybridge

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Bags better for everyone! Tesco and Morrisons welcome the Universal Bag

Marking a massive milestone in the global rollout of the Universal Bag project, Tesco and Morrisons are the next two UK partners.

Designed by Anya Hindmarch and manufactured by the Solent Group, The Universal Bag is reportedly the next generation of reusable bag; a desirable, durable, reusable, 100% recycled and recyclable shopping bag that's designed for everyone, to take everywhere, for just about everything or anything.

Working in collaboration with major global food retailers, the Universal Bag has the laudable aim of driving meaningful change across the entire industry. 

While use of single use plastic has reduced dramatically, with sales falling in the main supermarkets by 95% between 2021 to 2022, says lates official figures, the problem is far from solved. Nearly half a billion single use plastic bags were still sold between 2021 to 2022 and the ‘bag for life’ isn't th environmental solution we'd all hoped it would be.

However, since launching The Universal Bag project collaboratively over 150 tonnes of virgin plastic has been saved from landfill, the equivalent of over 12 London double decker buses.

The Tesco version, available from the end of July in 250 stores nationwide, will be available in their core brand colours of blue with red handles, while the Morrisons version, available from mid-September in 400 stores all over the country, will be in their core brand colours of yellow with green handles.

These versions of the Universal Bag are the seventh and eighth editions respectively and add to the growing global line up, following Asda, Co-op, Sainsburys, Selfridges Food Hall and Waitrose in the UK, City’SUPER in Hong Kong and National Azabu in Japan. More global partners will be announced later on this year.

Incidentally, Morrisons was the first UK supermarket to introduce paper ‘bags for life’ instead of plastic and has also committed to using 50% less plastic packaging in its own-brand products by 2025.

Working together with retailers with such impact, scale and ambition gives the opportunity to make meaningful changes and inspire long lasting shifts in consumer habits.

Both the Tesco and Morrisons versions will retail at £10 each.

The project, open to all food retailers worldwide, allows each partner to create their own exclusive version of the Universal Bag in keeping with their own brand requirements.

The Universal Bag is made from 100% recycled plastic and each step and material used in making the bag has been fully certified under the Global Recycling Scheme (GRS) making this a truly 100% recycled product.

Each Universal Bag is guaranteed to last for ten years having been extensively tested for durability.

The Universal Bag features an innovative, convenient freepost returns pocket built into a pocket inside the bag. You simply turn the bag into its built-in pocket which acts as a pre-addressed envelope and then post it through a letter box. It's then 100% recycled locally.

In addition to being practical the Universal Bag is designed to be durable, too. By creating a bag  customers feel excited to be seen with and are motivated to take care of, reuse is expected to increase, tackling one of the major issues surrounding shopping bags.

Anya Hindmarch, Founder and Creative Director, comments: “The Universal Bag project has saved over 150 tonnes of virgin plastic from landfill so far, the equivalent weight of over 12 London double decker buses. Plastic pollution remains a pressing environmental issue but working together with major global food retailers shows how the solution needs to collaborative.”

Rachel Eyre, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, Morrisons, adds: “We’re really thrilled to partner with Anya Hindmarch on the Universal Bag project and support such an important, vital issue. We are committed to reducing our plastic use and we were the first supermarket to introduce paper ‘bags for life’. It’s an issue our customers and colleagues are extremely passionate about so we're very excited to see the Morrisons x Anya Hindmarch tote land in our stores and we will be proud to spot it out and about, too!”

Ashley Simons, the Solent CEO, opined: “Both Anya and Solent have a shared heritage in creating and producing market disrupting initiatives that help customers to lead healthier, more sustainable lives. We are delighted to have partnered with Anya and her team on the Universal Bag which further supports the reduction and need for single use plastics. The Universal Bag is a beautiful and high performing product that encourages customers to buy into reusability and sustainability.

"It’s not a bag you’d ever feel comfortable throwing in the bin. Given the durability of the bag, ideally, it will never need to be recycled but, if it does, we have made it easy for the customer to get it back into the recycling stream, a process we believe has never been done before. The Universal Bag is a true market first and another step change in our mission to end single use plastic bag usage for one and for all.”

Looks like it'll be a great way to take your food and drink shopping back home with you, or to take your picnic to the beach and then back home again!

Co-op serves-up new Brixworth, Northamptonshire, store

Co-op is launching a new, improved, larger store this week (Friday, 21 July) to serve the village of Brixworth in Northamptonshire.

The 5,000 sq ft convenience store, which supports 25 jobs in the locality, is in excess of double the size of its Hunters Way store which will relocate to the new Northampton Road site.

Opening times are between 7am-10pm daily (10am-4pm Sundays), the new store includes a free ATM to provide access to cash for people living in the community. There's also an in-store bakery, a Costa coffee dispenser and hot food options, too. The Post Office will also relocate (from the Hunters Way branch) to the brand-new location following the launch.

Brixworth’s new Co-op store will also be including an enhanced, improved range of fresh, healthy products; great meal ideas; everyday essentials; food-to-go; Fairtrade products, flowers, chilled beers and award winning wines; ready meals, pizzas and, a free-from range. Also vegan and plant-based products, including Co-op’s exclusive vegan range, GRO. (I'm not a vegan, but I love the Co-op GRO sandwiches!)

A funding boost is provided locally via Co-op’s Membership programme. Membership of Co-op unlocks extra value with personalised offers and, Member price benefits to help its Members save even more. 

Also, Co-op members are rewarded with 2p in every pound that they spend on Co-op branded products which is added to their own personal Membership account balance, with Co-op donating the same amount to local good causes and, community organisations - so, Members can make a difference locally simply by shopping at their local Co-op.

Community causes which are currently being supported by the Brixworth store are: Sunny Socks Nursery School; Brixworth Wombles, the community litter picking group and, Brixworth First Responders.

Steve Littlewood, Co-op Store Manager, said: “It's really very exciting to be launching Co-op’s newest store. Our aim is to operate at the heart of local life in our community and, we are really looking forward to welcoming Members and customers into their new and improved store. We've worked hard to develop the range, choice and added services to create a compelling offer to serve our community, but to do so conveniently.”

A soft plastic recycle unit is also available in store to enable the community to recycle ‘soft plastics’ including: crisp packets and bread bags, lids from ready meals and yogurt pots, biscuit wrappers and, pet food pouches, too. 

As a result, this means all Co-op’s own food packaging is100% recyclable through either local authority kerbside collections, or its in-store soft plastic recycling unit.

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, it is owned by Millions of UK consumers and alongside Food, it operates Funeralcare; Insurance and Legal Services.

More information about the benefits of Co-op Membership is available by visiting coop.co.uk/membership.

Recycling food containers and related items. Why is it so difficult?

We are all, by-and-large, better than ever before about recycling our household waste. But why is it so difficult to recycle many items, especially food-related items?

The following, in general, cannot, as yet, be recycled:-

Grease- or Oil-Soaked Cardboard. (Even vegetable oils)

Lids and caps from many bottles.

Ceramic or Oven-Safe Serving Pieces.

Styrofoam or Polystyrene Containers.

Plastic Utensils.

Plastic Bags and Plastic Wrap. (Although these can be recycled at some supermarkets, but not at home, for some reason.)

Waxed Paper and Cartons.

Bubble wrap, in some areas.

This BBC link explains in more detail. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220525-what-can-and-cant-be-recycled.

The problem is that in order to know what plastics can or cannot be recycled ( PETE/PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS and other plastics) it seems you require a BSc degree in plastics technology and recycling.

Why can't the authorities just take all waste and then have trained workers sort them out and identify what can and cannot be recycled at a central recycling/waste depot? Too expensive? But if recycling and our environment is really as important as the government and local authorities and green pressure groups claim, surely it would be worth paying more money to address the issues of proper recycling?

As it is at our homes we have food recycling bins, green bins, bins for paper (separate bins for card in some areas) bins for plastics and glass and general recycling, containers for batteries, etc, all of which take up room in people's gardens, yards, patios, garages, pathways, etc.

So we can have up to six or seven different boxes, bags, bins for recycling at our properties.

The following site also has some useful information https://wrap.org.uk.

(Image courtesy Image by S K from Pixabay)

Aldi is switching to colourless, greener, milktops in all its 990 UK stores

Following last year's successful trial, Aldi, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket, is introducing the easier to recycle caps on all its milk lines in a bid to further boost the recyclability of the bottles.

Partnering with several suppliers, the new milk caps have started to appear in stores this week onward.

The roll out will mean a further 200 tonnes of High-Density Polythene (rHDPE) in the bottle tops can be reused to create new milk bottles.  

Customers will still be able to distinguish the milk type via the labels, which will remain red, green or blue depending on the fat content of the milk it contains.

Luke Emery, Aldi's Plastics and Packaging Director said: “At Aldi we are constantly reviewing ways to become a more sustainable supermarket and cut down on single-use plastic. That means working closely with all our suppliers to find solutions that will make a real difference.

“Improving the recyclability of packaging on an everyday product like milk has been well received by our customers, who are increasingly aware of products being environmentally friendly.”

Lidl is extending Prevented Ocean Plastic™ to its water bottle packaging

From next month, July, Lidl's San Celestino Italian sparkling mineral water bottles will incorporate the ocean bound plastic.

The permanent change will prevent the equivalent of nearly 4 million plastic water bottles from entering the ocean annually.

Also Lidl's changing all milk caps from coloured to clear, further boosting their recyclability.

Lidl GB has announced it will be incorporating Prevented Ocean Plastic™ into its water bottle and is the first UK supermarket to make this change.

Appearing in store throughout July, Lidl’s 1 litre San Celestino Italian Sparkling Mineral Water bottles will contain a minimum of 30% Prevented Ocean Plastic™,  plastic which would otherwise have ended up in the ocean.

With 12 million bottles of the everyday item sold annually, this initiative is expected to save nearly 100 tonnes of plastic from entering our oceans annually, per year, equivalent to almost 4 million plastic water bottles.

The move builds on Aldi's previous efforts in being green. Lidl has been leading the way since 2020, when it became the first UK supermarket to introduce food packaging using Prevented Ocean Plastic™. 

Since then, it's been rolled out across a range of Lidl’s own-brand fresh fish, breaded poultry, sausage and fresh fruit products, meaning Aldi's already prevented the equivalent of in excess of 15 million plastic water bottles from entering the ocean.

Doubling down on their commitments, Lidl is also taking steps to improve the recyclability of its plastic. Last year, the discounter transitioned its semi-skimmed fresh milk with supplier Müller over to clear caps from coloured.

Over the next two months, in partnership with both Müller and Cornish Farm, it's transitioning its entire milk range to clear caps.

The rollout of colourless milk caps this year will support industry wide retention of 4000 tonnes of bottle top material to be used again within the food sector.

Shyam Unarket, who is the Head of Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade at Lidl GB, said:  “Ocean plastic pollution is a pressing environmental concern, it is expected that by 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish. 

"As pioneers of integrating ocean bound plastic into our packaging in 2020, we have been consistently building and improving on our efforts since, and are proud to now extend Prevented Ocean Plastic™ into water bottles. Through this latest product development, we hope to inspire wider efforts across the industry.”

Prevented Ocean Plastic™ packaging, supplied and developed in conjunction with Bantam Materials, is made from discarded water bottles found in Southeast Asia within 30 miles of a coastline or major waterway that feeds into the ocean. This waste is then sorted and processed before being used in packaging. The entire process is fully traceable with a robust documented chain of accountability.

https://www.aldi.co.uk

Tesco launches collaborative ready meal tray-to-tray initiative with Faerch Group

In what's believed to be a first in the industry, Tesco has started to recycle used plastic food trays back into packaging - creating a fully circular packaging solution for its entire range of core chilled ready meals.

The change is in collaboration with leading packaging manufacturer Faerch and will see customer-recovered PET trays, which are collected via kerbside waste, recycled and converted back into food grade plastic trays.

Tesco’s ready meal trays already contain up to 75% of recycled content, mainly from cleaner and easier to recycle bottle flake plastic. Through the new Tray 2 Tray by Faerch™ programme, a minimum of 30% recycled tray content will be included in the new core chilled ready meals trays.

A phased rollout of the new trays will take place this month (April) across Tesco’s core own brand chilled ready meals. The collaboration will ensure high quality food-grade PET is kept within the supply chain, rather than being downcycled, and demonstrates PET packaging from trays can be fully recovered and recycled at an industrial scale.

Adele Kearns, Packaging Development Manager at Tesco, said: “We're absolutely determined to close the loop on our packaging, for it to be fully recyclable and contain recycled content wherever this is possible. 

"We remain committed to reducing our environmental impact, and helping our customers do the same, as we work together to protect our planet.”

Ruth Price, Strategic Sales Manager at Faerch UK, said: “We’re delighted to launch our Tray 2 Tray by Faerch™ programme with Tesco, an essential initiative that promotes circular food packaging in the economy, and we are committed to working with our customers to keep rigid food packaging in the economy and out of the environment. 

"Our collaboration with Tesco is the perfect example of how material from EU waste resources can be diverted into a valuable commodity. Moving forward, our intention is to not only increase the level of tray-to-tray content but to also start taking this from local UK feedstocks”.

Tesco also works alongside suppliers to drive change across products – eliminating all hard-to-recycle material from UK packaging in 2019 - and supports industry action including the UK Plastics Pact, which tackles the impact of plastic waste.

• Lines that have changed or will change over the coming weeks are:

o SPINACH & RICOTTA CANNELLONI 400G

o TOMATO & MOZZARELLA PENNE 400G

o SPAGHETTI & MEATBALL 400G

o TUNA BAKE 400G

o BEEF LASAGNE 400G

o VEGETABLE LASAGNE 400G

o SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE 400G

o SPAGHETTI CARBONARA 400G

o HAM & MUSHROOM TAG 400G

o CHICKEN ARRAB 400G

o PEPPERONI PASTA BAKE 400G

o ITALIAN CHICKEN & BACON PASTA BAKE 400G

o MACARONI CHEESE 400G

o CHICKEN & CHORIZO PASTA 400G

o PESTO PASTA 400G

o LENTIL BAKE 400G

o ITALIAN CHICKEN & BACON PASTA BAKE 750G

o BEEF LASAGNE 750G

o MACARONI CHEESE 750g

o THREE CHEESE MELT 750G

o PEPPERONI PASTA 750G

o BEEF LASAGNE 1.5KG

o CHICKEN, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA 1.5KG

o CARBONARA PASTA BAKE 1.5KG

o BEEF LASAGNE 1.5KG

o CHICKEN, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA 1.5KG

o CARBONARA PASTA BAKE 1.5KG

You can learn about Faerch here https://www.faerch.com/en