London: Plans to further cut the amount of packaging on products were announced on Tuesday by the UK Government. Packaging protects food and other goods on their travels from farm, factory, warehouses and shops to homes and offices.
The essential role of packaging is to avoid spoilage and damage taking place to the contained product.
‘Making the most of our packaging’ is a UK wide strategy up for consultation, that looks at the whole chain from production to disposal of packaging. Government says the overall aim of the Packaging Strategy is to minimise the environmental impact of packaging, without compromising its ability to protect the product.
The 10 year aim for the Government is that it will work with a range of delivery bodies and industry to enable standard packaging design using as little material as "will do the job" with re-usability, recyclability or recovery of prime concern.
The proposals put forward cater for :
- Enforcement action made easier against manufacturers of excess and unnecessary packaging;
- Consumers encouraged to continue to report excessive packaging to Trading Standards;
- Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to continue its work with manufacturers and retailers to reduce packaging on products in line with the best market practice;
- The recyclability of packaging to be improved and clear guidance provided for packaging manufacturers on design.
Environment, Sustainability & Housing Minister Jane Davidson said:
“Whenever I talk to people about waste the most regular complaint I hear is about the amount of packaging there is on the goods we buy and use. The Welsh Assembly Government wants to see this radically reduced.
“These plans are now being put out to consultation and I call on all people to give their views. We have proposed a 70 per cent target for recycling and composting all waste by 2025. However, we want see the amount of potential waste produced in the first place cut back.”
Since 1997 under producer responsibility regulations, businesses throughout the packaging supply chain in the UK have minimised the amount of packaging they use and ensured that a proportion of the packaging they handle is recovered and recycled.
In fact the UK recycled 61% of its packaging waste in 2008, a significant increase over the 28% achieved in 1997, resulting in over 6.6 million tonnes of packaging waste being diverted from landfill, and over 8.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions avoided.
Liz Goodwin, CEO of WRAP, said:
"Packaging waste is a major issue for shoppers, local authorities and retailers – and we need to join forces to tackle it. By working across the whole supply chain, we have greater opportunities to make a positive difference. 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 – for shoppers and the environment.”
Making the most of packaging covers all of the UK and is being published jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government, Defra, BERR, Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish Government.
Further information
For the full consultation visit:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/packaging/strategy.htm