Walkers has announced that it collected more than 500,000 packets in just three months, as part of its nationwide crisp packet recycling scheme, which was launched in December 2018.
Under the scheme, PepsiCo subsidiary Walkers worked together with recycling firm TerraCycle to develop a recycling solution for crisp packets. The method involves cleaning and shredding the crisp packets, allowing them to be melted into small plastic pellets that can then be used to make new rigid plastic items such as garden furniture.
In order to collect a resource stream for this method, PepsiCo and TerraCycle pledged to install hundreds of public collection points across the UK within the scheme’s first three months of operation, with such take-back points accepting packaging from any crisp brand.
Posting a progress update on the scheme yesterday (18 March), PepsiCo disclosed that around 8,500 collection points have been installed across the UK to date. These facilities are typically hosted at locations such as shops, schools, community centres and offices. Consumers without access to a collection point are being encouraged to post their packaging to TerraCycle free of charge.
In total, the scheme has now collected more than half a million crisp packets. According to Walkers, this progress makes the scheme “the fastest-growing and most successful” recycling campaign to be launched by a UK brand.
Walkers’ corporate affairs direction Duncan Gordon said, “The public’s response to this scheme has been fantastic – but we know this is just the beginning.”
“We’re continuing to encourage people to get involved with the scheme by taking used packets to their local public collection point. Meanwhile, we’re also continuing in our ambition to make all our packaging 100% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable by 2025.”
The biggest contributor to the scheme so far has been Sussex-based recycler Sue Welfare, who has sent almost 50,000 crisp packets to TerraCycle for processing to date. These packets have been used to make 25 park benches.
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