M&S pledges to turn plastic bottles into food packaging

M&S continues to impress with its eco credentials by today saying that it will send plastic waste from its London stores to the UK’s first recycling plant to turn used plastic bottles back into food packaging.

The plant, operated by Closed Loop London, will transform the recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the UK by turning millions of previously land filled water, soft drinks and cosmetics bottles back into new food packaging. Located in Dagenham and opening in December, the £12 million plant has received private equity funding from venture capital and the public sector via the London Development Agency and WRAP.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: 'today's announcement is a big leap forward for recycling in the capital and will boost our fight against climate change. We need real investment in recycling facilities rather than dumping our rubbish in landfill sites or sending it to incinerators to be burnt.’

Stuart Rose, Chief Executive, Marks & Spencer, added: ‘the Closed Loop London plant is a major step forward for recycling in the UK. Reducing the amount of waste from our stores and using more sustainable sources for our packaging is one of the main aims of our new 'eco-plan', Plan A.'