Sustainability

WILKO

Wilko set to recycle 400,000 facemasks by end of year

Customers can recycle used facemasks at the 150 participating stores nationwide.

Wilko’s #reclaimthemask scheme, which provides shoppers with a safe way to recycle their single-use face masks, is on course to recycle 400,000 facemasks by the end of the year – the equivalent to 966kg of single-use plastic.

Customers can continue to recycle their used facemasks at the 150 participating stores up and down the country and scan the Scan2Recycle QR on the box to see the recycling process in action.

Disposable masks are made primarily from polypropylene plastic and are commonly sent directly to landfills, incineration or become pollution in waterways. The combined materials, metal nose clips and elastic ear loops make them a complicated item to recycle.

Shona Stephenson, of ReWorked, said: “It’s a relief to see how many single-use facemasks the #ReclaimTheMask scheme has diverted from landfill and the ocean. These masks are so often polluting the environment, but hopefully, due to the scheme’s exposure, the public is more aware of how to dispose of their masks.”

SUPPORT FOR LIL-LETS MOVE TOWARDS MORE PLANET-FRIENDLY PERIODS

Lil-Lets recently launched reusable tampon applicator has been positively received, with 89% of those who initially tested the product found it to be simple and easy to use and 91% would recommend it to others.

In addition, 81% would be likely to switch from a disposable applicator to a Lil-Lets reusable applicator and 88% said this reusable applicator performed better or the same as their previous disposable applicator.Lil-Lets also confirmed that it will cease production of all plastic applicator tampons by 1 November 2021, reducing period plastic by over 11 tonnes each year.