ESSEX, UK
England’s Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) says the disposal of 165 million daily teabags is that nation’s largest unavoidable food waste and has teamed with Unilever UK to divert teabags from landfills.
WRAP estimates soaked teabags amount to 370,000 metric tons (815 million pounds) of waste annually. Teabags are largely organic materials that can be composted or recycled.
“We believe that putting them in with the rest of the household food waste will be a small habit change that everyone can adopt,” said Paul Sherratt, global packaging and sustainability director for beverages at Unilever.
Unilever on Tuesday launched a new advertising campaign, with its brand PG Tips, in partnership with the Brentwood Borough Council, Chelmsford Council and WRAP to promote recycling tea bags.
“The advertising campaign is about educating and advising residents to this simple change which we hope will have a great impact on the amount of tea bag waste going to landfill,” said Sherratt.
Ads featuring PG tips' much-loved, iconic "Monkey", advise tea drinkers that they can dispose of their used tea bags in their curb side food waste collection and do their bit to reduce Essex's waste to landfill. Posters will be placed at bus shelters and in advertisements will run in local newspapers.
The campaign is part of Unilever’s commitment to reduce waste delivered to landfills by 50 percent within the next eight years.
Source: Unilever, The Drum