Müller has acquired two Nampak fresh milk packaging facilities next to its dairies with a view to cutting its plastic consumption by 50% by 2020.
The dairy brand, which exclusively supplies Waitrose, the Co-op and M&S with own label fresh milk, has announced a multimillion-pound deal that has seen it purchase facilities adjacent to its Manchester and Bellshill, North Lanarkshire dairies. It is also in advanced negotiations to add Nampak’s Foston, Derbyshire and Severnside, Gloucestershire bottle plants to its portfolio.
Müller took over at Bellshill and Manchester last year, while it aims to complete deals for the Foston and Severnside sites by October 2018 and autumn 2019 respectively, as supply contracts reach their end.
Müller will use the acquisitions to pursue “innovative new packaging solutions” in partnership with its customers.
“We are clear about the need to drive down the use of plastic and have worked with our suppliers to remove 10,000 tonnes from our milk bottles since 2016,” said Müller Milk & Ingredients MD Andrew McInnes.
“We are also actively increasing the use of recycled plastic and seeking significantly higher levels of sustainable packaging innovation.”
It comes amid mounting pressure on food and drink businesses to reduce reliance on plastics. Iceland Food Warehouse MD Richard Walker warned replacing high-density polythene milk bottles would be one of the most challenging aspects of Iceland’s plan to eliminate plastics from its supply chain.
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