SAVE Zimbabwe is offer a recyclable SPAR carrier bag made from recycled SPAR UHT milk cartons, made entirely by hand by the Clean Marondera (CM) group.

CM is a community-based NGO working with the Zimbabwe Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the local council and the Marondera community.

The organization aims to help local families, people with disabilities, orphans and vulnerable children.

Bag manufacturing process

The cartons are picked up from the recycling stations, cut, flattened and thoroughly cleaned to remove any milk residue.

When the cartons have dried, they are assembled and crocheted together.

Each bag uses nine milk cartons, which provides a sustainable product from recycled materials and helps reduce waste.

Milk cartons are usually difficult to recycle due to the inner foil layer that keeps the product airtight and fresh for consumption.

SPAR Zimbabwe

The in-store initiative, launched in collaboration with EMA earlier this year, is part of SPAR Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to address the problem of littering, in particular plastic waste by consumers.

The initiative also aims to increase society’s awareness and participation in reducing plastic pollution, one step at a time.

“Every time you choose to refuse a plastic bag, you are helping to reduce the use of plastic in the world. It’s a small step, but every step in the right direction counts, “said Shamiso Pfumayaramba, coordinator of SPAR Zimbabwe’s CSR portfolio.

To encourage customers to reduce household plastic waste, participating SPAR stores also conducted an information campaign to give away a free reusable SPAR milk bag to customers who brought in disposable plastic bags for recycling during plastic-free July activations.

SPAR was the first supermarket chain in the country to switch to carrier bags made from 100% recycled plastic in 2017.

Alternative options

In 2018, they were the first in the country to introduce sustainably produced, 100% recyclable, biodegradable and environmentally friendly SPAR paper carrier bags.

SPAR Zimbabwe is currently working with a local manufacturer to reduce the cost of producing paper carrier bags locally.

Pfumayaramba added, “People are anxious to do their part to reduce plastic pollution, but often the much lower price of a plastic bag is the deciding factor in our current economy.

“We hope to find an affordable, plastic-free alternative soon. People want to be involved. Saying no to disposable plastic is a small but tangible way for them to make an active choice for the environment.”

© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Conor Farrelly. For more Retail news, click here. Click subscribe to register for ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.