18 Nov 2022 --- Co-op is replacing all colored milk bottle caps from its skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole milk packaging with clear caps to reduce color contamination in the high-density PE (HDPE) stream, allowing materials to be recycled more easily into food-grade packaging. The move is expected to reduce 150 metric tons of plastic per year. The move follows successful consumer trials on semi-skimmed milk in more than 400 Co-op stores in August and with “clear” recyclability gains to be made, green caps will be switched to clear in all of its stores by the end of next month. The changed portfolio can be found in all of Co-op’s stores across the UK. “There are changes in store for how shoppers see milk bottle tops, with the new caps able to be more easily recycled and retained in the food sector, unlike their colored counterparts. There is limited availability of food-grade recycled plastic, and that is a challenge. It is important that packaging is viewed as a valuable resource,” says Adam Williams, Co-op’s milk buyer.
