Asda store

Tiny pieces of ground plastic are mixed with asphalt, which sets to form the tarmac

Asda has transformed 90,000 plastic water bottles that would have otherwise gone to landfill or incineration, into Tarmac to resurface the car park of its Wakefield store.

Grinding transforms the plastic into tiny pieces that are mixed with asphalt, which sets to form the tarmac.

Asda said the use of plastic bottles reduced the amount of virgin petroleum needed in the process, thereby lowering the carbon footprint. It said the move could be rolled out to other car parks in its estate.

“This is a really innovative way to use plastic which cannot otherwise be recycled, and it demonstrates our commitment to looking for sustainable alternatives all across the business,” said Asda construction manager Daniel Hargreaves.

“We’re hoping with the success of this rollout in our Wakefield store, we will be able to look at using this exciting and more environmentally friendly approach to car parks across the Asda estate.”

The initiative forms part of the retailer’s commitment to use less, and recycle more, plastic.

It claims to have removed 6,500 tonnes of plastic from its own-brand products in the past year.

Last year Tesco Extra Cuckoo Bridge, Dumfries, became the first major supermarket to resurface its car park using waste plastics that would have gone to landfill or incineration.