If laid end-to-end, the recycled trays would stretch the length of the UK nine times over, demonstrating the scale of its impact since launching in 2021. The business collects back used cPET trays directly from customers and recycles them into brand-new trays for its meals at a specialist recycling facility in the UK.
Initially launched through its consumer-facing brand Wiltshire Farm Foods, the scheme now also operates across its NHS customers and partnering care homes nationwide, with growing participation helping to accelerate tray returns and reach the 50 million milestone at pace.
Lee Sheppard, director of corporate affairs, policy and sustainability at Apetito, said: “Surpassing 50 million recycled trays is a landmark moment and proud milestone for our ‘Project Boomerang’. It demonstrates not only the scale of what can be achieved through innovation, but our ongoing commitment to reducing our waste and driving more sustainable practices across our operations.
“We’re proud to be leading the way with a practical solution that not only reduces plastic waste at scale but empowers our customers to also do the ‘right thing’ and take meaningful action to reduce their own environmental impacts.”
Through this process, Apetito ensures that 100% of collected trays are recycled into brand-new ones, driving a more sustainable approach to packaging and creating a truly innovative circular system.