Co-op removes plastic packaging from its Easter eggs. Credit: © Co-operative Group Limited.

Convenience retailer Co-op has enhanced its sustainability commitment by removing all the plastic packaging from its Easter eggs.

The move is in line with the retailer’s pledge to eliminate unnecessary plastic from its own-brand ranges.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The company plans to make 100% of its own-brand packaging easy to recycle by the end of this year.

Co-op’s announcement follows the launch of the UK scheme to collect and recycle plastic film.

As part of this, Co-op will stop using plastic inner packaging and windows for all five of its hollow Fairtrade Easter eggs.

The retailer will save more than 14t of unnecessary plastic with this initiative.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Co-op environment manager Iain Ferguson said: “Easter egg packaging is renowned for its excessive use of unnecessary plastic, whether to protect the chocolate or to display the design of the confectionery.

“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to deliver a new solution that ensures the egg is still protected whilst allowing our customers to see all the aspects of the eggs and their stunning designs. This is a really positive step within the packaging industry, especially for seasonal Easter lines.”

Furthermore, the retailer uses almost 40% recycled content in own-brand packaging to minimise dependence on reliance on virgin or ‘new’ plastic.

In November, the retailer announced plans to get rid of all plastic and glitter from its 2020 Christmas celebration range, which helps in saving 1.1 million pieces of plastic.

Ferguson added: “To date, we have replaced over 7,000t of virgin plastic with recycled plastic in our own brand packaging and we’re committed to eliminating all unrecyclable plastic. We’re pleased to confirm that we’re also on track to meet our target for all Co-op own-branded products to be easy to recycle this year.”