Crisp recycling could save world a packet

Innovative Walkers scheme to make significant impact in fight against waste

Wholesale favourite Walkers is set to partner with recycling company TerraCycle to launch the UK’s first nationwide recycling scheme for crisp packets.

Hundreds of public access collection points will be developed all around the country as part of the scheme. People will be encouraged to recycle their packets directly into these or alternatively post them for free directly to TerraCycle.

Officially up and running from December, all crisp packets will be accepted in the scheme, which upon arrival will be converted into useful plastic items, such as benches and fence posts.

Full details of exactly how it will work and locations of the nationwide collection points will be announced nearer the time.

Wholesalers can get on board with the fight against waste by educating retailers about the scheme and in turn end consumers. Walkers’ long-term ambition is to make all of its packaging 100% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable by 2025. It is focusing significant resource on developing the technology and infrastructure to make this happen.

Crisp packets are technically recyclable, the issue until now has been that they weren’t being separated or collected for recycling. Walkers’ investment is making this possible for the first time.

“We share people’s concerns about the amount of plastic in our environment and are working on a number of both short and long-term solutions to reduce the impact of our packaging,” explained PepsiCo UK’s General Manager Ian Ellington.

“Our new Walkers recycling initiative starts to tackle this issue right now by repurposing used crisp packets to create everyday items such as plant pots and benches. We hope people will embrace this idea and join us in ensuring crisp packets are recycled.

“We’re determined to crack this in the long term and have a number of initiatives underway to create the right materials and environment for the crisp packets of the future.”

Environment PepsiCo recycling Walkers