Red Noses to Start New Life in British Homes as Carpet Underlay 

Sainsbury’s (UK) and Comic Relief are helping supporters of Red Nose Day to do their bit for the environment. People who purchased the iconic Red Noses to support Red Nose Day on the 15th March 2013 are now being encouraged to return them to Sainsbury’s supermarkets to be recycled.

Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief have partnered for a second year with leading UK carpet underlay manufacturer, Ball & Young, to recycle the PU Foam Red Noses. They will be collected from Sainsbury’s supermarkets nationwide and taken to its factory in Corby, Northamptonshire to be washed and prepared for recycling. They will start a new life as part of Ball & Young’s award-winning Cloud 9 range of underlays used mainly in British homes. It takes a day to turn them into underlay and the red flecks from the Red Noses can be easily spotted throughout the underlay.

Katherine How, Sainsbury’s Comic Relief Partnership Manager, said: “The success of Red Nose Day shows our customers want to help transform lives across the UK and Africa. We also know they care about the environment so we’re making it really easy for them to recycle the Red Noses. It’s good news for the environment and it’s helping Comic Relief supporters make an even bigger lasting impact.”

Ann Shaw, Sales Director at Ball & Young, said: “The Noses will be processed in our state of the art factory where they will be chipped, bonded and rejuvenated to attain the quality necessary for our carpet underlay. The enthusiasm from customers and employees has been tremendous and we’re pleased to continue our work with Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s.”

Red Nose Day supporters can bring their Red Noses to Sainsbury’s supermarkets nationwide where they are being collected until the 31st March 2013. Putting all waste to positive use, as well as finding opportunities to re-use it, is a key part of Sainsbury’s work around environmental sustainability and is one of its targets to achieve by 2020 as set out in its industry-leading 20x20 Sustainability Plan.