From fast food companies, to our favourite coffee chains, to our every-day supermarkets - the pressure is on. The prime minister herself has called for all avoidable plastic to be removed within five years, even suggesting supermarkets introduce 'plastic free' isles where fruit and vegetables are sold lose. Here is a list of some companies who are starting to take a real stand on recycling.
Iceland - This month Iceland announced that they were going to be the first UK retailer to commit to eliminating plastic packaging for all it's own brand products, opting instead to use packaging made of paper and pulp. These items will be fully recyclable through domestic waste collection or in store recycling facilities. They've given themselves a five year target to go plastic free.
McDonalds - The goal for McDonalds is that by 2025, all it's packaging will made from renewable, recycled or certified materials. Their challenge is to get this message across to their 37,000 restaurants around the world.
Marks and Spencer - Here's one company which is a few paces ahead as currently 90% of all Marks and Spencer's packaging is recyclable in the UK. Whilst they have made big changes in an effort to improve their recycling, including reducing packaging by 25% between 2007 and 2017, they acknowledge there is still some way to go. Their main challenge at the moment is looking at ways to recycle the black trays that their ready meals come in.
Coca cola - Also this month came a big pledge from world-wide brand Coca cola. They want to recycle a used bottle or can for every-one that the company sells by 2030. Coke have faced a lot of criticism from environmentalists who don't believe they are doing enough. This goes someway to addressing environmental concerns, however Greenpeace have criticised that it does not go far enough, suggesting that they need to reduce and reuse as well as recycle.
Other companies, including supermarkets Asda, Aldi and Tescos are also continuing to looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Watch this space.
