Soft plastics donated by Tesco are being recycled into decking and accessible picnic tables for health centres across the country.

Tesco, Veolia, Groundwork, and NHS Property Services (NHSPS) have joined forces to recycle soft plastics into outdoor furniture for upcoming social prescribing green spaces.

Since 2019, NHSPS has delivered 100 hubs and gardens across the country with the aim to promote community wellbeing and connectivity through nature-centric environments.

And over six tonnes of soft plastics – or 155,500 individual soft plastics – were donated by Tesco and transformed into a sustainable 100%-recycled plastic lumber, Smartawood.

This lumber was accredited by BBA with a life expectancy of 120 years, requires little maintenance, and is designed not to rot or rust.

John Scott Health Centre in London is the first to benefit as green spaces get renovated.

The new space is a part of a bigger scope; with further projects planned at Maghull Health Centre, Merseyside; Goscote Hospice, Walsall; Shaw House, St Austell; and Whitby Community Hospital.

John Scott Health Centre, the first purpose-built health centre in Britain, was once home to an active gardening group which lost its space to a pop-up vaccination centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now NHSPS has reinstated the garden area, making it a welcoming and usable area with decking and accessible picnic tables.

Dr Min Rodriguez, head of social impact at NHSPS, said: “We are proud to see the continuous development of our Social Prescribing programme.

“This collaboration highlights the potential of innovative partnerships to not only create vibrant spaces for public benefit, but also to drive positive change in healthcare and environmental sustainability.

“And it’s particularly especial that we are repurposing soft plastics instead of increasing waste.”

Tony McElroy, Tesco head of campaigns, added: “It’s fantastic to see the soft plastic that our customers are returning being turned into something new that will benefit communities and help give young people a stronger start in life.

“It’s still our absolute priority to remove and reduce as much plastic as possible and make sure everything we use is recycled and kept out of the environment.”

And Adam Wylie, managing director of commercial at Veolia, said: “Utilising recycled materials in green spaces and collaborating across private and public bodies to deliver these social prescribing gardens is a testament to how we can and must all work together to deliver ecological transformation.”