Morrisons brings back traditional glass milk bottles to cut plastic and reduce CO2 emissions

– Morrisons is launching reusable glass milk bottles to cut plastic and reduce CO2 emissions –

– The trial is a partnership with local dairy farmers –

– The ‘long life’ bottles last for decades without signs of wear and tear –

 Morrisons is launching a glass milk bottle trial as part of its drive to reduce plastic and bring back traditional packaging. 

The glass milk bottles hold a pint^[1] of milk and are priced at 90p. They are available in seven trial stores across Kent and four stores around Sheffield. They are delivered directly to Morrisons supermarkets by local dairy farms and once returned are collected and sanitised and can be reused for ten years or more. 

The introduction of traditional glass milk bottles is expected to remove 40,000 plastic bottles from these Morrisons stores per year as well as reduce CO2 emissions – as delivery from local suppliers means milk covers shorter distances. 

Natasha Cook, Packaging Manager, from Morrisons said: “We want to help our customers live their lives with less plastic. Reusing glass milk bottles is an easy leap for many people to make because they remember that this was how milk used to arrive on the doorstep. We’re currently talking to other local dairies and hope to be able to roll out glass milk bottles across the country.”

Steve Hynd, Policy Manager, from City to Sea said: “Milk is a prime example of a product that could and should be swapped from single-use plastic bottles to planet friendly reusable bottles. It is great to see Morrisons pioneering the process of delivering milk in reusable bottles in supermarket stores. We know this move is popular, with 3 out of 4 people telling us they want more refill options in shops as a way of tackling plastic pollution. This is Morrisons doing not only what’s right for the planet but also what their customers are telling us they want to see.”

Morrisons has committed to a 50% reduction across its own-brand primary plastic packaging by 2025. Initiatives introduced over the last 12 months will remove 9,000 tonnes of unnecessary or problematic plastic each year. Over 83%of Morrisons own-brand plastic packaging is now able to be recycled. 

In 2019 Morrisons was voted the most environmentally responsible company in the UK for its work on plastics reduction at the Responsible Business Awards, run by HRH The Prince of Wales’ Business in the Community Network. 

For more information, visit: www.morrisons.co.uk .