Media Information
Battle for Eco-Consumers extends beyond the food counter, says trade association
10/10/2006
The battle for the title of ‘most environmentally-friendly store group’ need not be fought purely on the fruit and vegetable counter, according to BAMA (the British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association).
The Association has been at the forefront of advising retailers about aerosols and for over a decade has run a Retailer Liaison Group which meets twice a year to advise on the latest regulations and technical matters. As a result, some of the major retail groups are in the vanguard of the consumer education process.
John Lewis Partnership and Marks & Spencer are believed to be the first retailers to introduce point-of-sale information which will appear in store later this year advising customers: “Recycle your empty aerosols. Visit http://www.recycleaerosols.co.uk/”.
George Mattes, Manager of Merchandise Standards for John Lewis Partnership says: “BAMA has taken an important environmental initiative which we are planning to support through John Lewis and Waitrose stores. Educating the consumer is something we feel strongly must be done. We will be introducing on-shelf advice to customers".
Sarah Lindley, Beauty Product Technologist for Marks & Spencer, says: “I’m delighted that this week we have instructed our stores to include shelf-edge information to advise consumers that they can recycle their aerosols purchased from Marks & Spencer. We know that this kind of information can definitely help the customer to understand more about the product. Keeping it simple is important. Our in-store beauty advisors will be able to direct people to further information if needed".
Five years ago BAMA estimated that only 7% of local authorities were collecting aerosols for recycling. The most recent survey (March 2005) shows that this has grown massively, and now 75% of local authorities* are recycling empty aerosols. However, many consumers remain unaware of the potential for recycling this packaging format.
Sue Rogers, BAMA’s Director says: “Recycling has been at the forefront of BAMA’s work for many years. Our Retailer Liaison Group, where we discuss important issues such as recycling, has around 16 regular members from the most prominent grocery and DIY sector store groups and we are able to work closely with them. 89% of consumers use aerosols in the home and yet our research earlier this year shows that half of these users don’t know that their empty aerosols can be recycled. They just don’t realise how simple it is to send them off for recycling. We applaud the consumer education initiatives being taken by some of the retailers and hope it will now encourage the remaining 25% of local authorities to follow their colleagues and recycle empty aerosols along with other household metals waste”.
CONSUMER TIPS FOR AEROSOL RECYCLING
Recycling empty aerosols is easy, you should:
1. Check how your Local Authority collects aerosols for recycling (e.g. kerbside collection or can bank)
2. Make sure your aerosols are used up, but do not pierce or squash them
3. Remove any plastic parts that come off easily, such as lids
4. Then leave them mixed in with your other metal waste, such as food and drinks cans (do not separate them)
ends
NOTE TO EDITORS
Local authorities: *Source: BAMA survey.
BAMA regularly surveys local councils and provides help and support to all Local Authorities by providing free information and literature via its recycling resource pack on its website http://www.bama.co.uk/ Materials can be downloaded and then customised for each Local Authority. The literature includes artwork for labels, recycling boxes and supporting text and illustrations for promotional literature and can-banks.
Each year the UK uses around 600 million aerosols, with is equivalent to about ten cans per person; in total this represents over 30,000 tonnes of reclaimable high grade metal that can be recycled each year. Approximately 65% of aerosols are made from tin-plated steel, and the rest from high-grade aluminium. Links: http://www.recycleaerosols.co.uk/ http://www.bama.co.uk/
For further press information please contact:
Jo Jacobius or Gill Shaffer
Axiom Communications
020 8 347 8206 or 07850 338 998
e-mail: jo@axiom-uk.com