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plastic into general waste as a result. Educating people and businesses on the best practice for collecting, sorting and cleaning waste at source will boost plastic recycling. An integrated supply chain, each element structured to facilitate recycling, will also make a significant positive impact.
CHSA: Design for recycling and an
integrated approach Two dominant messages emerged from the recent Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) conference on plastics.
First, product packaging and processes need to be designed with recycling in mind. Second, an integrated approach, from the start to the finish of the supply chain, is crucial to increase recycling.
CHSA members, who are working hard to build environmental sustainability into the heart of their businesses, were addressed by a panel of experts. The panel included: Martin Kersh, Executive Director of the Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA); Mark Roberts, Managing Director of RPC bpi Group’s Plasgran; Anthony Holley, Development Director of Biffa; and Richard Lainchbury, Operations Director at Bunzl Cleaning & Hygiene Supplies responsible for the company's waste management strategy.
Stephen Harrison, CHSA Chairman, explained: “Our members want to do the right thing in terms of environmental sustainability. Our expert speakers provided valuable information. As an Association we are taking it forward to develop a practical roadmap our members can follow to improve their processes and procedures as we work towards an efficient and environmentally-friendly circular economy.”
The perception plastic is suffocating the planet triggered a backlash, yet it’s also an incredibly versatile material, all types of which can be almost endlessly recycled with a carbon footprint lower than current alternatives. A predominantly circular plastic economy is possible, but product and packaging design can make it difficult to extract and recycle each type of plastic from the waste stream.
Additionally, consumers are confused about what’s possible and what’s needed to facilitate recycling, often throwing
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Martin Kersh provided an update on legislation affecting business, urging delegates to actively engage in relevant consultations. He commented: “Your voices need to be heard if we are to reach a position where this valuable material is used in
an environmentally sustainable way. In particular, ‘producer responsibility’ means the manufacturer is responsible for what ultimately happens to the plastic. If this is the case, a responsibility must also be placed on the consumer to dispose of the product correctly. Littering, for example, or a failure to provide access to appropriate recycling facilities must be properly addressed.”
Plasgran’s Mark Roberts added: “We have the technical expertise to recycle every type of plastic. The challenge is capturing it efficiently from the waste flow. The infra-red scanners, for example, cannot identify the type of plastic if it is black. Products designed with this in mind will radically change our rates of recycling.”
Anthony Holley explained the imperative of collecting and sorting waste quickly and easily into individual waste streams if recycling rates are to increase. He said: “There needs to be simpler and more consistent packaging at source, designed for recyclability and using more recycled content, together with clear and consistent labelling for consumers. This will feed into consistency at the collection end, reducing confusion about what can and can’t be recycled across the board. Personal responsibility is as important as producer responsibility.”
Finally, Richard Lainchbury explained how Bunzl is segregating waste streams and adopting a plethora of small but impactful changes: “We have set a minimum standard for all our sites. Each one has to have segregated waste streams in order to maximise recycling opportunities in the office and warehouses. All branches are reusing packaging and equipment to reduce reliance on plastics.
“We are introducing water tape dispenser machines to remove polypropylene tape across our branches and trialling alternatives to pallet wrap. By adopting the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle, small changes like these are having a big impact in our business.”
www.chsa.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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