10 OPINION
An opportunity to reduce plastics waste
The implications of taxes on plastics used in the pulp and paper sector are outlined by Paul Fleetwood, sales director of Cromwell Polythene in the UK
in recent years to encourage individuals and organisations to reduce their environmental impact, with steps to reduce packaging waste being a key focus. For example, around 20
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countries have implemented some form of deposit return scheme for drinks containers, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden and some states in the US. Scotland is due to introduce a DRS system in July 2022, with plans to introduce a system in England and Wales from 2023, following recent consultation. It must be a practical, convenient system, and at the same time, it must not undermine or inconvenience consumers recycling packaging at their kerbside.
overnments worldwide have introduced a number of legislative measures
In addition, in 2018, a Europe- wide strategy on plastics was adopted as part of the transition towards a more circular economy. The UK Government has outlined plans to introduce a Plastic Packaging Tax from April 2022, which will apply to plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK that contains less than 30 per cent recycled plastics. This aims to increase recycling and reuse, diverting material from landfill or incineration.
Technical barriers Whilst a well-intentioned policy, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) indicates it fails to address a number of current technical barriers that prevent the increase of recycled materials for certain applications. It could, therefore, have the unintended consequences of generating more packaging waste and undermine
customer confidence that highly technical products are fit for their intended purpose. My organisation and many within the plastics packaging industry already provide a high level of recycled content in products. We embrace helping customers in diverse manufacturing sectors including the pulp and paper sector, to meet their sustainability goals. In fact, in many cases, responsibly- produced plastic can have a high recycled content of up to 100 per cent. There has been a reduction in the amount (and cost) of polythene used in the pulp and paper sector through down- gauging, by switching to better shrink and stretch film. This saves resources by reducing materials and taking tonnage out of the process on the overwrap, shrinks and on the individual printed wraps.
Paul Fleetwood, sales director of Cromwell Polythene: “helping customers in the pulp and paper sector to meet their sustainability goals
This has been possible
through advancements in polymer technology, with new materials now giving the same performance for a given thickness in conventional grades. These performance characteristics also work through to recycled material, although this can lead to variation in the physical properties, which I address in the ‘one size does not fit all’ section. Film that rips, bursts or doesn’t protect products will end up costing more money and material in the long run. There are also certain applications where the recycled content used in plastic packaging is restricted under product safety laws. This includes medical packaging and in regulations relating to food and drink, cosmetics, personal care, and hygiene.
Studies indicate switching
Many plastics used in industrial packaging have the capability to be recycled January/February 2021
to alternative materials other than plastic packaging would, in the majority of cases, lead to sustainability issues. These include higher energy and water use, increased carbon dioxide
Pulp Paper & Logistics
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