Industry News Editor’s Note
Welcome to the May issue of Converter. The UK Government is set to reform the Plastic
Packaging Tax, arguing that changes to the scheme could help raise funding to scale chemical recycling innovations. The Plastic Packaging Tax was introduced in April
2022. It applies at a rate of £200 per tonne to plastic packaging that includes less than 30% recycled content, covering imported packaging as well as packaging manufactured in the UK. One of the changes proposed is a reform of the Plastic Packaging Tax, which
Ministers have argued could help to scale chemical recycling innovations. The Government has stated that taking the mass balance approach could help to funnel investment into chemical recycling, which will be needed to develop solutions for harder-to-recycle items such as flexible plastics and black plastics. In this issue of Converter, we’ve got features on Coating & Laminating, Drying, Curing & UV, Flexible Packaging, Ink & Ink Dispensers and Cutting Systems.
Simon King Editor
sking@datateam.co.uk
Retailers warn that households will foot £1.7bn EPR bil
The British Retail Consortium has again criticised the government’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) proposals, warning that householders will foot the £1.7 billion bill without seeing recycling improvements. The BRC, whose members include Asda, Sainsbury’s
and Tesco, has instead set out six alternative reforms which it said are needed to create a “fit for the future” waste management system. In a statement, BRC said retailers are “committed to reducing waste and
packaging” but want reforms that “truly deliver on these aims”. The body said its members are “deeply concerned” that EPR reform, due to come into force in April next year, is “fundamentally flawed”. The statement read: “Without significant investment in recycling infrastructure
in Britain, households in the UK could be footing the bill for EPR without any meaningful improvements to UK recycling rates – a prospect which has been absent in campaigning ahead of next month’s local elections.” It added: “Major retailers are calling on Government to fix the policy. At a cost of at least £1.7bn per year, businesses want a world class new EPR scheme that significantly increases the use of recycled materials in new packaging as they try to meet their ambitious sustainability goals. Unfortunately, there is little confidence in Defra’s current proposals for EPR.” While producer lobbying against EPR has been ramping up in recent months,
the BRC took the unusual step of setting out the reforms it wishes to see. The BRC’s six-point plan ringfenced funding to stimulate investment in the
recycling system, to be industry-led, a clear and workable plan for delivery, co-ordination with other waste management reforms, to be cost-effective for households and businesses and alignment across local authorities and devolved businesses. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “It’s time that Government went back to the drawing board.”
LABCOATER
Coating, Drying and Laminating - the basic functions of the «LTE-S»
Small LABCOATER for sample size A3
Versatile usage for • knife over roll • air knife
• rubber blanket • lamination
Various options e.g. surface temperature measurement
We will show you how to achieve the optimal performance from the «LTE-S»
www.convertermag.com
May 2023
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