Manufacturers face a sea change of new, tighter regulations for packaging as part of government’s strive toward a low carbon economy, environment secretary Hilary Benn has revealed.
Manufacturers face a sea change of new, tighter regulations for packaging as part of government’s strive toward a low carbon economy, environment secretary Hilary Benn has revealed.
Benn, staying on at Defra after the recent cabinet reshuffle, announced government’s new strategy on packaging at the Futuresource conference at the ExCel Centre in London this week.
“We need to rethink the way we deal with packaging, from production line to recycling bin,” he said.
An 83 page report Making the most of packaging – A strategy for a low carbon economy has been released, detailing government’s intentions.
Measures include potential £50,000 fines for manufacturers that use excess packaging and consumers will be urged to blow the whistle on those that do. To help, the recyclability of packaging will be improved and clear guidance will be provided for manufacturers on designing it with recyclability in mind.
From a public perspective, government will work with local authorities and packaging producers to improve recycling services, so that in future more types of packaging and in larger amounts of it is collected for recycling from homes, businesses and public drop-off points.
Some materials, such as aluminium and glass may be banned from landfill altogether.
“The plans we’ve announced today set out how we will achieve that – with the goal of making it as easy as possible for consumers to avoid needless packaging in the first place and get rid of what they do receive in a way that doesn’t just create more landfill,” added Benn.
Another measure that Benn suggested is customers refilling coffee jars at supermarkets rather than taking a new one each visit.
The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is to be commissioned to work with manufacturers and retailers to reduce packaging for everyday products.
“By working across the whole supply chain, we have greater opportunities to make a positive difference,” said WRAP CEO Liz Goodwin. “We need to cut excess packaging whilst recognising that the right packaging can help products last longer and so reduce waste. This is crucial if we are to meet UK targets for keeping waste out of landfill.
“We have a chance for real innovation here – so that, from design to disposal, packaging is the very best it can be.
The Making the most of packaging report is available from Defra by clicking here.
