It’s amazing to see my idea to help tackle plastic waste come to life at Co-op

I first heard about Co-op’s commitment to plastic reduction through a Co-op Member Voice email. I saw Co-op was asking members to join in and make suggestions about packaging and as I’d just been in store buying eggs and plums, I’d wondered why plums couldn’t be sold in cardboard boxes like eggs are, without any plastic wrapping.

• How are Co-op tackling plastic waste?

I submitted my idea for Co-op to consider, along with 8,000 other suggestions from Co-op Members. It was amazed when I heard my egg-box style packaging idea was shortlisted and put to a member vote and then won. Following this, I was invited up to Co-op’s Support Centre to see some packaging samples and hear how Co-op are putting my pulp packaging idea into practice.

It’s amazing to see my idea to help tackle plastic waste come to life at Co-op. It’s going to be used in the packaging of Co-op golden kiwis, ready-to-eat kiwis and pears, apples and organic avocado.

To meet with the Co-op team and learn more about what they’re doing tackle plastic waste was a fantastic experience. It’s great to see them talk with passion about it and I’m happy to hear that they are reducing their use of plastic, and where they do use it, they’re making it easy to recycle or reuse by 2023.

This Join In opportunity was fantastic for me as a Co-op Member and I’m excited to share that Co-op are working on several other member suggestions that came through from this activity!  If you’re a Co-op member, like me, sign in to your member account and take a look at the opportunities that are available to shape your Co-op right now.