At the beginning of 2023, Yeo Valley announced their transition of removing non-recyclable plastic from their 350g and 450g yogurt pots. This not only meant that the pots were becoming recyclable, but Yeo Valley went the extra mile to remove their plastic lids. Yeo Valley have proudly announced all their products being 100% recyclable and sustainable.
Although the fully recyclable range of packaging has only been released as of this year; the operation has been in process over a few years in the hopes of creating a positive change to the industry’s future.
Yeo valley stated, ‘using pots made out of 100% recycled plastic to changing our creams packaging to a more recyclable bottle, we’ve been able to make changes that have made a difference’.
The transition has enabled the company to remove a colossal ‘145 tonnes of plastic a year’ which they have compared to the same weight as ‘24 African elephants or 17 tractors.’
This eye-opening statement further embellishes Yeo Valley’s formative decision; but they haven’t stopped there. Yeo Valley also announced their collaboration with Enval to help recycle all Yeo Valley products to help their plastic not end up in landfills.
Enval’s scheme focuses on Yeo Valley’s pouch packaging. They have stated that the pouches are ‘heated to 550c which separates the materials into pure aluminium, gas and oil.’ The divided components each serve a purpose for Enval as ‘The gas is used to power the plant and the oil is re-sold as fuel’. This scheme prevents an astonishing 15,000 plastic pouches being disposed in landfills.
But not only does the oil and gas serve a purpose, but the re-use of aluminium also prevents ‘raw aluminium being extracted from the earth and reduces the company’s carbon footprint by 75%’.
Yeo Valley are hoping that creating a 100% recyclable range will not only be pragmatical to the environment but also serve as an influence to guide fellow dairy brands into generating a circular economy. In the hopes of moving the industry into a sustainable direction by reducing their plastic footprint.
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