Michael Fletcher, Co-op’s Retail Chief Commercial Officer said: “Manchester has a great opportunity to show the world what level of ambition is required and, how to get on with it. It has to be our long term aim to find more sustainable alternative solutions to plastic, plus the delivery of a series of changes that we could take today – that consumers not only understand but, if acted upon, would make a huge difference to the momentum for change.”
“Co-op has the lowest plastic footprint of any retailer and, we are committed to eradicating single use plastic from our stores. We have removed polystyrene from pizza bases, plastic from our cotton buds, and do not sell any products containing plastic microbeads. Last year Co-op rolled-out compostable carriers to over 1,000 stores, and I am pleased to announce that similar bags will be available through an initiative with GMCA, sharing knowledge and, co-operating, to enable every retailer in Greater Manchester to access compostable bags for their customers.”
Councillor Alex Ganotis, Portfolio Lead for Green City Region, added: “We face urgent and significant environmental challenges in Greater Manchester – the global impacts of climate change and environmental decline have been widely acknowledged as among the greatest economic and public health threats of this century.
“Our Five Year Environment Plan sets out how we will tackle these challenges in Greater Manchester, meeting our environmental responsibilities, alongside securing our economic future and wellbeing. To do this, it sets out a range of policies and commitments, as well as proposing actions that we all need to take to secure an excellent environment for our city region and contribute our fair share to tackling global climate change.
“Greater Manchester has a history of industrial and social innovation and we need to harness this to make sure everyone here can grow up and live in a clean and green city region, with good quality housing and secure jobs in the future economy.”
Retailer’s can register their interest for compostable carriers now, and find out more, by visiting: http://www.greencarrierscheme.org/
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