Alexei Volkov
As one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, Albertsons Companies has made a pledge to reduce plastic use in its packaging. The company aims to achieve greater sustainability by ensuring that 100% of its Own Brands product packaging will be recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. Albertsons is taking various steps to reduce its plastic waste, such as encouraging customers to bring their own reusable shopping bags and providing designated recycling bins for plastic bags near store entrances. The company is also working with How2Recycle to standardize its labeling system and improve the transparency of recyclability claims.
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What You'll Learn
Albertsons' commitment to reducing plastic waste
Albertsons Companies, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, has demonstrated a strong commitment to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability. On April 22, 2019, the company unveiled its Plastics and Packaging Pledge, aiming to significantly reduce plastic usage, particularly single-use plastics.
The pledge includes several key components. Firstly, Albertsons aims to ensure that 100% of its Own Brands packaging will be recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable by 2025. This means that all packaging for their extensive portfolio of store brands will have eco-friendly end-of-life options. Secondly, they plan to decrease plastic usage, with a specific focus on single-use plastics. This involves working with suppliers to reduce, reuse, and decrease plastic content in their products and packaging.
Albertsons is also committed to increasing the recycled content in their Own Brands plastic packaging, targeting 20% by 2025. To achieve this, they are partnering with bag manufacturers to create reusable shopping bags made from recycled material, including post-consumer waste. These bags are durable, machine washable, and can be used up to 125 times. Additionally, Albertsons is actively recycling operational plastics, such as plastic film and shipping crates, and repurposing them into new products like composite lumber for decking and railings. Through these initiatives, Albertsons distribution centers and stores recycle approximately 22 million pounds of plastic film annually.
Furthermore, Albertsons is improving recycling communications on their Own Brands product packaging. By 2022, they aim to provide clear and reliable recycling information, including the use of QR codes, to help consumers make informed decisions. This initiative is in partnership with How2Recycle, a company that standardizes labeling and improves the transparency of recyclability claims. Albertsons is also a participant in the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which encourages companies to increase the amount of plastic that is reused, recycled, or made into new packaging.
Overall, Albertsons Companies is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainability through various initiatives aimed at decreasing plastic waste. Their comprehensive approach, which includes recyclable packaging, reducing single-use plastics, and reusing operational plastics, demonstrates a strong commitment to creating a greener future.
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Plastic bags recycling
Plastic bags are a major environmental concern as they do not biodegrade and can take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. They are also one of the most common sources of marine debris, often ending up in the oceans and being mistaken as food by birds and fish. As a result, many companies and local governments are taking steps to reduce plastic waste and improve recycling options for plastic bags.
Albertsons Companies, for example, has pledged to reduce its plastic use and increase the sustainability of its packaging. By 2025, the company aims to ensure that 100% of its Own Brands packaging will be recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable. Albertsons is also working to decrease its use of single-use plastics and plans to include 20% recycled content in its Own Brands plastic packaging by 2025. As part of its closed-loop process, Albertsons offers reusable shopping bags made from 65% recycled material, including a minimum of 40% post-consumer waste. The company also recycles plastic film from its operations and single-use plastic bags brought in by customers, using the material to create new products such as composite lumber for decking.
Recycling a ton of plastic bags saves 11 barrels of oil, and there are several ways to recycle plastic bags properly. Most plastic bags are made from high-density polyethylene (#2 plastic), while thinner bags like produce bags are made from low-density polyethylene (#4 plastic). To recycle plastic bags, ensure they are empty of any receipts, stickers, or crumbs, and check for the #2 or #4 plastic symbol. Many national and local grocery retailers, such as Kroger, Safeway, and Walmart, offer bag recycling collections in their stores, usually located near the front entrance. However, black plastic bags are harder to recycle due to the dyed plastic producing dark pellets that limit reprocessing options.
Curbside recycling programs for plastic bags are available in some areas, but it is important to check with local programs before including plastic bags in curbside recycling. Plastic bags can cause contamination in city recycling programs when they are not properly separated and recycled through the correct channels. To facilitate recycling at home, it is helpful to keep a bag collection bin, such as a large garbage bag, to collect plastic bags for recycling. This is a more eco-friendly alternative to throwing plastic bags away, as they can easily be compacted and do not biodegrade.
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Plastic film recycling
Albertsons Companies has pledged to reduce plastic use in its packaging and achieve greater sustainability. The company aims to make 100% of its Own Brands packaging recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable by 2025. It also plans to decrease plastic usage, with an emphasis on single-use plastics, and include 20% recycled content in its Own Brands plastic packaging by 2025. As part of this initiative, Albertsons recycles approximately 22 million pounds of plastic film each year, which is used to create products like composite lumber for decking, railings, and other commercial applications.
To determine if a plastic film is recyclable, consumers can look for an equilateral triangle with resin codes 2 or 4, indicating polyethylene plastic. Additionally, store drop-off recycling programs are available at participating retail stores, where consumers can bring plastic bags and flexible plastic packaging for recycling. However, it is important to verify which types of plastic films are accepted by these programs.
While plastic film recycling is essential, it is not widely accepted in most curbside recycling bins due to the challenges of handling thin and lightweight plastic films at material recovery facilities. Some flexible packaging is also made of multiple layers, making it difficult to recycle or break down. As a result, consumers are advised to separate recyclables and avoid placing plastic bags or wraps in their curbside recycling bins.
To ensure effective plastic film recycling, it is crucial to keep plastics clean and free from food, liquids, or other contaminants. By following local guidelines and properly sorting recyclable materials, consumers can play a vital role in reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability.
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Recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging
Albertsons Companies, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by unveiling a pledge to reduce plastic use in its packaging. The company has set a target to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable packaging for its Own Brands by 2025. This initiative is in line with the growing demand from consumers for retailers to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic items.
Albertsons is actively working towards decreasing plastic usage, with a particular focus on single-use plastics. They plan to include 20% recycled content in their Own Brands plastic packaging by 2025. Additionally, they aim to recycle operational plastics for new retail, industrial, and consumer items. To improve the customer experience, Albertsons will provide clear recycling communications on their Own Brands product packaging, including the use of QR codes by partnering with How2Recycle. This will help standardize the labeling system and enhance the reliability and transparency of recyclability claims.
The company is also encouraging sustainable practices among its customers. Albertsons offers customers the option to recycle their used plastic bags by providing designated recycling bins near store entrances. These recycled bags are then transformed into new products, such as benches, fences, and pallets, reducing plastic waste and minimizing the number of bags ending up in landfills. Albertsons also incentivizes customers to bring their own reusable shopping bags, with some stores offering reusable bags made from 65% recycled material, including a minimum of 40% post-consumer waste.
Furthermore, Albertsons is committed to reducing plastic waste across its supply chain. They are starting with the recycling of #5 polypropylene crates used for transporting fruits and vegetables. These crates will be recycled into plastic pellets, which can then be used to create more crates, closing the loop on their packaging system. Additionally, Albertsons' distribution centers and stores recycle approximately 22 million pounds of plastic film annually, which is used to manufacture products like composite lumber for decking and railings.
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Non-recyclable plastics
Albertsons Companies have pledged to reduce plastic use in their packaging and achieve greater sustainability. They aim to make 100% of their Own Brands packaging recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable by 2025. They also plan to decrease their use of single-use plastics and increase the use of recycled content in their packaging.
While recycling plastic is essential for the environment, not all plastic types are widely recyclable. Non-recyclable plastics include:
Plastic Tableware and Food Trays
Plastic knives, forks, spoons, plates, cups, bowls, and trays should be disposed of in the trash. These items are often contaminated with food and made from low-value plastic resins, making them non-recyclable.
Hazardous Substance Containers
Plastic containers that previously held automotive fluids, pesticides, or drain cleaners should be thrown away. These containers are considered hazardous waste and cannot be recycled.
Personal Hygiene and Medical Plastics
Diapers, feminine hygiene products, syringes, gloves, and other medical plastics should be disposed of in the trash. These items contain hazardous substances and cannot be recycled.
Plastic Packing Foam and Cups
Disposable plastic cups, especially those contaminated with food or made from low-value plastic resins, are non-recyclable. PE-LD packing foam, which resembles Styrofoam but bends instead of breaking, should also be disposed of in the trash as it is made from low-value plastic resins.
Plastic Straws and Styrofoam Containers
Plastic straws and Styrofoam takeout boxes, plates, cups, egg cartons, and meat trays are typically contaminated with food and made from low-value plastic resins, making them non-recyclable.
It's important to note that the recyclability of plastic types depends on their composition. Thermoset plastics contain irreversible chemical bonds and cannot be recycled, whereas thermoplastics can be remelted and remolded. Other non-recyclable plastics include bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated wrapping paper, and polycarbonate.
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Frequently asked questions
Only three types of plastic can be recycled: PVC, PE, and PET. Albertsons accepts plastic bags for recycling, which are then transformed into new products like benches, fences, and pallets.
Soft plastics are not recyclable at Albertsons because they can get caught in machinery and cause jams. Black plastics cannot be recycled as well.
Albertsons has pledged to reduce plastic use in its packaging and increase the recyclability of its products. By 2025, the company aims to have 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging for its Own Brands. Albertsons also encourages customers to bring their own reusable shopping bags and offers bags made from 65% recycled material.
