A Devon-based recycling and energy recovery company and Procter & Gamble (P&G) have agreed a five-year contract for the supply of recycled plastic to be used on their goods.
Shoppers will see evidence of Viridor and the brand's partnership on their supermarket shelves in P&G’s Ariel laundry product range.
The move aims to reach up to 50% recycled content in its liquid bottles as of 2020.
The companies, both founding partners of the 海角视频 Plastics Pact, are committed to inspiring positive action on the environment and driving circular change.
Viridor’s supply of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) to P&G will save the equivalent of 200 million bottles of virgin plastic over five years.
HDPE is a versatile plastic which is widely recycled whereas virgin plastic is newly created plastic which doesn't contain any recycled materials.
A key aspect of recycled plastic vs virgin plastic is that recycled plastic uses 50% less energy – so it is resource and energy efficient.
P&G Purchases group manager Adam Selby said: “Viridor is an established innovator in the area of sustainable packaging.
Most Read
"This collaboration accelerates P&G’s 2030 goal to reduce our use of virgin petroleum plastic in packaging by 50%.
"As a founding member of The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, we are committed to helping to minimise and manage plastic waste and promote solutions like this for used plastics.”
Viridor Resource Management managing director Keith Trower said Viridor had been supplying P&G with post-consumer recycled material for the past three years, with volumes steadily increasing to meet P&G’s growing sustainability targets.
He said: “The true measure of success is reflected in seeing our product on supermarket shelves.
“Viridor is committed to delivering quality to the circular economy. Quality control is crucial to our recycling operations – this is how we ensure we can offer manufacturers competitive alternative circular economy stock as opposed to their sourcing virgin stock.”
Viridor’s MD of recycling, Simon Hicks, said the company’s investment in innovative recycling infrastructure was designed to match the steadily increasing demand for recycled material.
He said: “In addition to our specialist polymer facilities at Rochester and Skelmersdale, we have invested £65m in the new recycling and reprocessing centre at Avonmouth, near Bristol, the 海角视频’s largest multi-polymer plant.
"Our investment in sophisticated recycling infrastructure will not end here. We have been very clear about our commitment to investment, innovation and collaboration to drive the circular economy in the 海角视频, with this programme reflecting the clear preference for recycled material.”