Co-op introduces compostable carriers to the nation’s favourite street

Co-op’s compostable carriers appeared in TV series ‘Coronation Street’ for the first time yesterday (Wednesday February 20).

A full-scale Co-op storefront first appeared on ‘Coronation Street’ on April 27 2018, as part of a product placement deal between the retailer and ITV. As well as the shopfront, viewers see Co-op posters and bags integrated across Britain’s longest-running soap opera, which is set in Weatherfield: a fictional town based on Salford, part of Greater Manchester.

Now, as part of its aim to ditch single-use plastic bags, the Co-op has rolled out its environmentally-friendly alternative compostable carriers to over 1,000 food stores – including those across Greater Manchester. The move is estimated to replace around 60 million single-use plastic bags UK-wide.

Co-op claims to be is the UK’s first retailer to introduce compostable carriers and make them widely available in areas where the local authorities accept them as part of household food waste recycling collections.

The not-for-profit bags – priced at 5p – have a secondary use as a caddy liner. The food waste and bag can then be turned into peat free compost. The bags are also suitable for home composting.

Co-op customer director Alison Jones said: “We are committed to helping shoppers in the towns, villages and cities that we serve across the UK make more ethical choices. Reducing the environmental impact of our products is a priority, and we are focused on eliminating single-use plastic. ‘Coronation Street’ is all about local life and it is an exciting development that our green alternative to the plastic bag is now available for residents of ‘The Street’.”