Brakes has launched a campaign to eliminate the use of non-recyclable hard black plastics for packaging own-brand products by the end of 2020.

Hugo Mahoney: ‘The foodservice industry needs to be more proactive in being responsible users of plastic.’

The ‘2 Zero 20’ initiative began on 5 June – World Environment Day – with none of these materials being used for any new Brakes lines.

CEO Hugo Mahoney said: “We recognise that the foodservice industry needs to be more proactive in being responsible users of plastic. We also know that consumers are asking our customers what they are doing about plastic and we are therefore giving them the solution that they need.

“We will also be working with some of the UK’s leading foodservice brands and suppliers as part of our packaging forum as we seek to find alternatives to problematic materials and unnecessary single-use items, with a focus on items within our catering disposables range, such as hard black plastic food containers and straws.”

Mahoney added: “We hope our example will encourage other foodservice wholesalers, large and small, to take a similarly proactive stance to addressing this issue.”