SPAR Italy region Maiora introduces biodegradable shopping bags and supports sea turtles

December 5, 2022 IN THE CATEGORY: Environment, Responsible retailing

SPAR Italy regional retailer Maiora (DESPAR Centro-Sud) has renewed its partnership with Legambiente, an Italian environmental association. The announcement was made when launching 100% biodegradable and compostable organic shopping bags, which feature information to support the organisation’s sea turtle recovery centres in the Centre-South of the country and its turtle care activities.

The organic shopping bags are made available to SPAR customers in all of Maiora’s stores and raise awareness for environmental sustainability and the preservation of endangered species.

Promoting ‘Tartalove’

In this way, Maiora contributes to Legambiente’s ‘Tartalove’ project, aimed at safeguarding the Caretta Caretta sea turtle, an endangered animal that risks disappearing from our seas due to professional fishing, nautical traffic, and polluted water. Plastic pollution is one of the most frequent causes of mortality for sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea. Legambiente’s turtle recovery centres have documented that over 50% of the sea turtles had ingested various types of plastic: bags, bottle and dish remains, cotton buds, fishing lines, and various types of packaging.

“Environmental subjects are becoming more and more topical in everyday life, ” explained Grazia de Gennaro, Head of Maiora’s Communications Office, and added that “not only citizens are called upon to play an active role, but also companies must, through simple gestures, make a fundamental contribution.”

Maiora has been promoting environmental and territorial protection for years, actively involving its employees and consumers through partnerships with qualified environmental voluntary organisations.

Source: DESPAR Centre-South

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About SPAR Italy

SPAR Italy, known locally as DESPAR Italia, was first granted the SPAR Brand’s licence in 1959. The first store opened in 1960, making SPAR the first partnership of retailers and wholesalers to operate in the country. In addition, SPAR Italy licenses regional partners, all of whom work together to grow the brand across the country.

The DESPAR consortium operates stores under three formats: DESPAR neighbourhood supermarkets, EUROSPAR Supermarkets, and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets. Many of the larger format stores are company-owned, reflecting the scale of investment required. The independently owned neighbourhood supermarkets are a vital part of the organisation’s strategy to bring a high-quality, tailored grocery offering to communities.