QUESTION TIME
recovery schemes, whether it’s through the Packaging Recovery Note scheme or through council or commercial collections. We need to maximise this to ensure as much packaging as possible can include recycled content and making the link with high quality material is crucial here.
This isn’t just about
consumers understanding and putting pressure on manufacturers to better use
supermarket shelf and shift volumes of product. What will be the impact of using a variety of materials as a composite rather than a single material that can be easily recycled, is just one of the questions that should be posed at the start of the design process for packaging.
Closing the loop is essential to ensure we make the most of the finite resources available to us. The recycling we collect from our
“Investment in infrastructure and the development of new technologies is critical for brands to embrace sustainable packaging.”
resources, it’s designers thinking at the outset that the packaging or products they design can be recycled or recovered at the end of their life. Producers’
responsibilities need to extend to the whole product lifecycle, not just that it will attract a consumers’ eye on the
customers is supplied to our Group’s paper making
operations, which in turn supply the Group’s packaging operations that supply packaging into UK supply chains. This process means that material recycled today could be back in the economy as
packaging 14 days later.
The relevant players throughout the supply chain contribute to their percentage to recover and recycle material and this has proved to be pretty effective under the UK system, target freezes notwithstanding. The UK market-based system is designed to offer low-cost compliance when there is plenty of supply but restore the balance when overtaken by demand. Over the longer term this has led to a more robust system. And while there are calls for amending the Packaging Regulations to better incentivise high quality recycling, particularly to level the playing field between PRNs and PERNs, this system has historically played its part in helping the UK increase its packaging recovery rates.
Ultimately we need to make it an easy process but understand the limitations in place. What’s the easiest way for us to capture high quality material for
Our industry experts provide a compelling insight into the topical issues of the day
THE EXPERTS... CHRIS DOW
CEO, CLOSED LOOP RECYCLING
Chris, an Australian entrepreneur, came over to the UK in 2004 when closed loop
recycling infrastructure was almost non- existent. With his extensive business development and senior management experience, he managed to secure funding and build his first multi-million pound Closed Loop Recycling plant. Chris has become an expert in waste management and recycling, and regularly advises government bodies and industry.
TIM PRICE
COMMERICAL MANAGER, DS SMITH
Tim has more than ten years’ experience in the UK recycling sector. Having held a number of different roles in operations, sales
and marketing, Tim has played an integral role in developing DS Smith Recycling’s services to enable UK plc to improve its sustainable waste management practices. He has spoken at a variety of industry events on a host of issues at the heart of the environmental sector. He also more recently sat on the advisory panel for CIWM Wales Towards Zero Waste Conference and was a key contributor to an edition of the IOD Sustainable business book.
recycling? Many of us are used to taking back our recyclables at the same time we do our supermarket shop and continue to use bring banks in retailer car parks. But with the increasing proliferation of kerbside recycling collections most find it easier to participate in these and this convenience means more of us will use these over bring sites.
What we need to do is
communicate the importance to everyone in the supply chain the importance of recycling materials to the best quality possible to maximise the value from them. We need systems that support this ethos enabling us to generate a robust and consistent market that makes a viable contribution to the UK economy.
If you are a packaging expert or professional and you would like to contribute as a panelist, email:
rebecca.goodacre@onecoms.co.uk
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