Berry Gardens own-label punnets to be produced using ocean plastic

Berry Gardens, a major UK-based berry and stone fruit production marketing group, is launching new r…

Berry Gardens, a major UK-based berry and stone fruit production marketing group, is launching new recycled packaging using Prevented Ocean Plastic which has been collected from beaches and coastlines that would otherwise have ended up in the ocean.

The new rPET packaging, produced exclusively by Sharpak Aylesham, will feature in the majority of own label punnets supplied to major UK supermarkets by Berry Gardens.

Punnets will contain up to 80% recycled content with each punnet containing a minimum of 30% Prevented Ocean Plastic.

Berry Gardens use of this packaging initiative is expected to prevent more than 204 tonnes of plastic from entering the ocean – the equivalent of 8.2 million water bottles.

Prevented Ocean Plastic, which is supplied by Bantam Materials to Sharpak Aylesham and certified by OceanCycle, refers to plastic bottles that are collected from the shoreline before being responsibly converted into high quality raw material.

Found within a 50km distance of an ocean coastline or major waterway, any plastic waste left uncollected would end up as ocean pollution.

Raffi Schieir, European Director of Bantam Materials which supplies Prevented Ocean Plastic, adds: “We need to increase take up of recycled plastic, collecting what is already in the natural environment so it can replace new plastic, save our oceans from devasting pollution and cut carbon emissions.

“Berry Gardens’ leadership in using recycled ocean bound plastic will help to protect both people and planet, and is an important step in turning an aspiration for a closed loop plastic economy into reality.

“As well as diverting plastic away from our oceans, Prevented Ocean Plastic helps coastal communities in developing countries by supporting bottle collectors, collection centres and local recyclers based there.

“We want to change the way everyone thinks about plastic waste, so it is recognised as valuable and everyone involved in the collection and recycling process is valued. This is an exciting next step on that journey.”