In a first to market, Waitrose has joined forces with Jutexpo – a leading manufacturer of reusable bags – and designer Emma Bridgewater, to create a reusable bag made entirely of recycled plastic bottles, raising money for The Prince’s Countryside Fund.
With the launch of the exclusive Emma Bridgewater designed bags, the supermarket and Jutexpo will be reusing half a million bottles in total.
Each bag is created using the material from seven plastic bottles, in a process which turns the plastic into a durable and practical fabric called rPet fabric, short for recycled polyethylene terephthalate, which looks like a jute bag with a wipe clean coating.
The supermarket expects that a number of reusable Waitrose shopping bags will be designed using the same material in the future, turning over one million plastic bottles into shopping bags.
The design features Emma’s iconic polka dots and comes in two summery colours, a bright and bold purple and a classic cream & lilac. Also part of the range are four new fold-away pouch bags, also made from recycled plastic bottles, featuring classic Emma Bridgewater designs.
Both types of bag will be available in Waitrose shops from Wednesday 20 June, with 10% of the retail price from each bag going to The Prince’s Countryside Fund, to support projects across the UK that help provide a secure future for the countryside.
Says Waitrose Buyer, Karen Stenton, “Waitrose is continually looking for innovative ways to cut plastic waste and we realise this is just as important to our shoppers, who are extremely interested in tackling these pressing environmental challenges too.
“Reusable jute bags are extremely popular with our customers, and the fact this bag uses recycled material will make it even more appealing to them. It means that they are not only being kind to the environment by purchasing a reusable bag, but are also contributing to the reduction of plastic in the environment while supporting a worthwhile charity with their purchase.”
Emma Bridgewater comments, “I am thrilled to launch these shopping bags made from recycled plastic water bottles. Recent campaigns have shown how vital it is that we all help to manage this situation responsibly to make sure our environment is not negatively impacted.
“I hope that Waitrose shoppers will enjoy these super-light and useful bags; and that they will serve as a positive daily reminder to recycle plastic wherever possible.”
Sam Turner, compliance director at Jutexpo, said: “This project takes the plastic from bottles and gives it another useful purpose after its life as a bottle has ended. Waitrose was Jutexpo’s first ever customer when we began producing and supplying reusable bags 15 years ago and the relationship we have with them has been key to understanding the issues around plastic bottles and the ways in which they can be repurposed in a meaningful way.”
