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INCPEN News

16 December 2020

Governments and industry join forces on packaging producer responsibility

INCPEN Member News


17 December 2020

Berry Global and Repsol to boost sustainable circular resins in packaging


17 December 2020

P&G commits to 2,021 acts of good in 2021 and inspires millions through lead with love campaign


15 December 2020

Nestlé Ireland wins Corporate Impact Award at the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards 2020


15 December 2020

Unilever launches TRANSFORM Survive & Thrive platform in partnership with FCDO and EY


15 December 2020

Coca-Cola European Partners invests in multi-beverage dispensing company Lavit


15 December 2020

Great news if you love sprouts - but bad news if you don’t!


14 December 2020

Danone further strengthens governance to support ‘Local First’ adaptation plan


14 December 2020

Hellmann's partners with FareShare to donate 50,000 meals this Christmas


14 December 2020

Dow and Packaging Industries Limited’s Mama Silage Bags help farmers in Kenya to improve their silage storage and reduce waste


11 December 2020

Costa Coffee launches Gift-A-Book Christmas campaign


11 December 2020

Boots and No7 save over a tonne of plastic from landfill with new recycling scheme


10 December 2020

Essity announces proposal to increase ownership in Asaleo Care Limited


10 December 2020

Unilever and Starbucks join alliance to boost anaerobic digestion use in US



9 December 2020

Ardagh's new beverage can and end plant in Ohio


9 December 2020

Sainsbury’s creates 12,000 seasonal roles ahead of digital December


9 December 2020

Tesco cuts plastic from its Christmas range


9 December 2020

Nesquik, Ricoré and Chocapic Bio now available in reusable containers


9 December 2020

Tesco confirms all conditions have been satisfied for the sale of its business in Thailand & Malaysia


9 December 2020

Nestlé invests to expand renewable energy availability


8 December 2020

Coca-Cola European Partners included on the Carbon Disclosures Project’s A List for climate change and water security


8 December 2020

Coca-Cola HBC recognised with Double 'A' Score for Climate Action and Water Stewardship


8 December 2020

Essity recognized by CDP with prestigious ‘A’ score for sustainability

7 December 2020

Coca-Cola European Partners sets ambition to reach Net Zero emissions across entire value chain by 2040


7 December 2020

P&G Recognizes Plastipak with Supplier of Excellence Award


7 December 2020

Nestlé accelerates climate action with suppliers through the Exponential Roadmap Initiative


4 December 2020

Essity contributes to increased handwashing awareness


4 December 2020

M&S Food expands plastic-free grocery refill concept to third store


3 December 2020

Nestlé sets out plan to half emissions by 2030 and be net zero by 2050


3 December 2020

Ardagh Group awarded ENERGY STAR® building certification

2 December 2020

PepsiCo Commits to 100% recycled plastic bottles for its Pepsi brand in 9 EU markets by 2022


1 December 2020

Sainsbury’s to match millions in donations to support those in need this Christmas


30 November 2020

Coors Light and Ball team up to bring infinitely recyclable aluminium cups to Allegiant Stadium fans


24 November 2020

Dow joins industry leaders, shippers and experts to commit to transparent reporting of shipping emissions

24 November 2020

Boots UK and Alliance Healthcare donate 500,000 lifesaving medicine, Almus Dexamethasone to the NHS


20 November 2020

Dow’s RENUVA™ Program Wins Sustainability Award from Chemical Week


19 November 2020

Coca-Cola HBC begins EU-wide replacement of plastic wrap on can multipacks


19 November 2020

Dow joins new consortium to promote global recycling in self-adhesive label industry “CELAB: Toward a Circular Economy for Labels”

18 November 2020

Klöckner Pentaplast commits to PET capacity expansion for the heat shrink label market in North America


18 November 2020

Unilever sets bold new ‘Future Foods’ ambition


18 November 2020

Triple win for Ardagh Briquette Project


17 November 2020

Boots UK and Locus Robotics Win Supply Chain Excellence Award for “Best Use of Robotics”


16 November 2020

Coca-Cola European Partners included in Dow Jones Sustainability Index for fifth year in a row


16 November 2020

Tesco wins 'Sustainable Retailer of the Year' at the UK Packaging Awards 2020 


12 November 2020

Purina launches first cat litter in refillable container

Legislation Updates

INCPEN Members (not including Trade Association Group colleagues) can see all legislation updates in full by clicking here.  If you experience issues logging in, please contact Alison Skuse.

United Kingdom - Compliance options for retailers change prior to EPR reform - 9 Dec 2020


Prior to the consultations on EPR reform - now scheduled to take place in 2021 - the importance of the Distributor Takeback Scheme in the WEEE regime declines, while that of the WEEE compliance fee fund (managed by JTA) increases.

Distributor Takeback Scheme likely to expire
A peculiarity of the UK’s WEEE regime allows EEE retailers to pay fees to a Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) – provided such a scheme is approved - as an alternative to assuming their WEEE take-back and reporting obligations*.  The fees paid to the government appointed DTS finance the maintenance and improvement of local authority WEEE collection points (in 2017/8/9 a combined GBP 0.8 m were made available). In 2007, DEFRA approved PRO Valpak to operate the DTS, which since then has continued to operate as the only approved DTS.

On 1-Jan-20 the latest interim approval** of Valpak’s DTS commenced. The approval allows the scheme to operate until end-2021 but requires it to cease to be available to ‘large’ retailers already from Jan-21.

In the absence of an approved DTS, the DTS compliance option will be unavailable, and the distributors’ take back obligations*** of the WEEE Regulations will apply to
  • ‘large’ retailers/distributors (EEE sales over GBP 100,000 p.a.) from Jan-21.
  • smaller retailers and online retailers without physical stores from Jan-22.
The eventual fate of the DTS is yet to be determined by government’s review of the WEEE regime (see below) but at this stage appears unlikely.

* The WEEE Regulations (Part 9) require EEE retailers/distributors to either a) provide in-store take-back of WEEE b) set up an alternative, free take-back service or c) join the DTS.
** Valpak’s Oct-19 Phase 5 Proposal was partially approved by DEFRA for the period 2020-2021, with the caveat that it would only be available to ‘large’ (Band A & B) retailers until 31-Dec-20.
*** In-store take-back on a 1:1 basis and - if having a sales area of over 400 sqm – of small WEEE (<25cm) on a 0:1 basis (Part 5 of the WEEE Regulations).


Increased role of ‘Material Focus’ (formerly WEEE Fund) in WEEE regime
Another peculiarity of the UK’s WEEE regime is the ‘WEEE Compliance Fee’ – in place since 2014 – which PROs may pay as an alternative to acquiring WEEE evidence notes from collectors or other PROs to reach collection targets. DEFRA annually selects an organisation to collect the compliance fee and distribute the collected funds. Except for compliance year 2016 (when Valpak was chosen), DEFRA has always selected the JTA which is supported by EEE producer associations and three large WEEE PROs: ERP UK, Recolight, and REPIC. The JTA administers the compliance fee through non-profit organisation Material Focus (formerly the WEEE Fund).

‘Material Focus’ has collected a combined GBP 16 m* in fees for the compliance years 2017/8/9 with which it is implementing its strategic objectives to increase WEEE collection. These notably include
  • supporting local authorities to roll out curbside WEEE collections of WEEE (GBP 3.5 m): By mid-2020, 17 local authorities had received funds and Material Focus claims that over 3 million households (over 10% of total 27.6 m total) have access to ‘enhanced doorstep’ WEEE collection services.
  • national behaviour change campaign Recycle Your Electricals, launched in early 2020 (GBP 3.5 m). In the context of the campaign, Material Focus launched a communication toolkit for (newly obligated) retailers in late Nov-20 to help ensure consistency across all consumer communications relating to retailer take-back. The toolkit has been approved by BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) and OPSS (Office for Product Safety and Standards) and is available on request.
  • COVID emergency support for recyclers and re-use charities (GBP 5.7 m), which include interest-free loans.
* an estimated 10-20% of the total costs to producers of the UK’s WEEE regime

Consultations on reforming EPR regimes, including that on WEEE, now scheduled for 2021
In 2018, the government announced that the Government would review of the WEEE and the Batteries Regulations in 2019 and would launch consultations in late 2020. In Feb-20 a ‘post-implementation review’ of the WEEE Regulations was released, but the consultation timeline has been moved back: DEFRA now expects all consultations on EPR reform to be published in stages throughout 2021, starting with packaging and followed by WEEE.

Like almost all other countries the UK has failed to reach the EU’s 65% WEEE collection target applicable from 2018. For 2018, DEFRA calculated the WEEE collection rate at 54%. Of the total 816,397 tonnes collected in 2018, 31% (253,726 tons) did not pass the PROs but were separately collected in the light iron waste stream.

DEFRA believes a systemic reduction in the collection of small WEEE over the years is partly to blame, revealing an urgent need to improve the accessibility of WEEE collection infrastructure and to develop more take-back routes to step-up collection.

For 2020, UK EEE producers, respectively PROs, are again expected to miss their target (set at 537,976 tons) and thus pay WEEE Compliance Fees, which in turn will provide funds for improving accessibility of WEEE collection infrastructure.

Romania - Draft proposes mandatory DRS from April 2022 - 3 Dec 2020


A draft Decision establishing the legal framework for the implementation of a mandatory DRS was released for a 10-day commenting period ending 29-Nov-20. It is expected to be approved and published before end-2020.

Ordinance 74/2018 provided the legal basis for the establishment of a DRS for non-reusable beverage packaging from Apr-22. A Jan-19 Emergency Ordinance brought the date forward to Jan-21.

The Nov-20 Draft Decision proposes the application of a RON 0.5 (EUR 0.1) deposit amount: -
  • on non-reusable glass, plastic and metal beverage containers with a volume of 0.1 to 3 liters
  • used for soft drinks, juices, mineral waters, beer and alcoholic beverages, cider and other fermented beverages, wines and spirits.
The proposed launch of the DRS is set for 1-Apr-22. However, the final launch date remains uncertain as the Jan-21 deadline remains valid and Minister of Environment Costel Alexe’s commented s that the DRS would be launched in 2021.

The DRS is designed to be managed by the ‘administrator’, a single, government-appointed non-profit management entity. In anticipation, the Romanian Brewers Association and the National Association for Soft Drinks (ANBR), representing 70% of the Romanian beverage sector [the Draft requires the administrator hold a min. 30% market share], have established the Alliance of Beverage Producers to operate the DRS.

The Draft requires all producers/packers/fillers of covered beverage containers and all distributors – regardless of size – to register with the administrator. Covered beverage containers will require a label (to be set in an upcoming Ministerial Order) and unique barcode to facilitate traceability. In addition to collecting and refunding the deposit amount, distributors will be required to take-back deposit packaging, keep records of volumes collected and separately display the deposit amount on price tags and sales documents. Compensation will be awarded by the administrator at a yet-to-be-determined rate and frequency. Refunds of the deposit will not require any proof-of-purchase.

The proposed collection targets – 75% in 2022 increasing to 90% in 2024 – are ambitious and will likely be revised. The Draft does not impose re-usable quota or recycled content requirements.

Minister Alexe had previously commented that the fulfilment of the EU packaging recycling targets will rely heavily on packaging waste managed outside of the PROs. The establishment of a DRS covering multiple material and beverage types will strongly facilitate the meeting of these targets and help to avoid EU infringement procedures on the country’s currently low municipal waste recycling rate (~11% in 2018).

Germany - Draft amendment to Packaging Act puts changes up for discussion - 3 Dec 2020


The proposed changes notably concern 1) the approach to address the online free rider issue, 2) the introduction of financial transparency requirement for PROs, 3) the transposition of the SUP Directive’s collection targets and minimum recycled content requirements for beverage bottles, as well as 4) the transposition of the SUP Directive's mandate to reduce single-use to-go and delivery food packaging and beverage cups by making it mandatory to offer of reusable alternatives on which a deposit is likely to be charged.

The draft is an initial draft which the federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) sent to the Laender (state) governments and industry associations for feedback. It has yet been coordinated with other federal ministries. The BMU accepts comments before 3-Dec-20.

Marketplaces to be prohibited from enabling the ‘offering for sale’ of non-compliant goods
To address the free rider problem in online marketplaces, the draft proposes the same approach as the Sep-20 draft amendment to the WEEE Act: This approach builds on a peculiarity of German EPR legislation, which prohibits distributors from ‘offering for sale’ products/packages from non-compliant producers. The draft proposes to expand this prohibition to also apply to the act of ‘enabling’ others to offer non-compliant products for sale.

In more detail, the draft proposes to:-
  • define 'electronic marketplace' as enabling distributors to place goods on the German market - irrespective of whether the marketplace is established in Germany or not - and prohibit them to ‘enable’ other parties to offer products for sale in packaging for which a PRO must be - but is not - contracted;
  • define 'fulfilment service provider' as an entity providing at least two of the following services in Germany for distributors: warehousing, packaging, addressing and shipping (not considered fulfilment services are postal, parcel delivery or transport services) and prohibits performing services involving non-compliant packaging.
Violations of the prohibition may incur fines of up to EUR 100K.

Changes related to determining the party obligated as producer
To improve other producer registration related provisions, the draft proposes to: -
  • introduce the concept of AR (authorised representative) into the Packaging Act (new § 14a);
  • clarify obligations for ‘point-of-sale’ (service) packaging: Currently retailers are by default considered as the party placing service packaging on the market. However, they may require the packaging supplier (converters or importers) to join a PRO (dual system) on their behalf. The Draft amendment adds that retailers remain obligated to register, even when they appoint the packaging supplier to assume the obligation to join a PRO.
  • the entity to assume producer obligations for shipping packaging which is applied by a fulfilment service provider should be the seller of the goods for whom the fulfilment service provider works (not the fulfilment service provider).
Introducing financial transparency requirement for PROs a minimum requirement on EPR
The draft aims to transpose the minimum requirements on EPR. While PROs (‘dual system’) remain subject to unspecified approval of the state (Land) in which they are legally established, the draft proposes to require them to disclose financial information to the central authority ZSVR annually. The ZSVR thus could inform the state authorities for example of an impeding insolvency.

The minimum financial data proposed for mandatory disclosure are a) available financial resources including bank balances, approved overdrafts and loans; c) funds and assets available as collateral; c) working capital; d) relevant costs including for means of transport, land, buildings, equipment and vehicles, e) liabilities; and f) taxes and social security contribution. The ZSVR is authorised to specify detailed forms and to request supporting documentation issued by a bank or an auditor.

Transposition of the EU’s beverage bottle collection target and minimum recycled content for PET bottles
The draft proposes to transpose parts of the single-use plastic (SUP) Directive:
  • Art. 9 - which sets targets for the separate collection of SUP beverages bottles of up to 3 liters (77% of POM in 2025, 90% in 2029) – is proposed to be transposed in the Packaging Act’s ‘Overall Waste Management Objectives’ (§1)
    • without holding a specific party responsible for reaching the targets, and
    • by exempting bottles (including their caps) from the targets whose dominant material is PET and which use at least 25% recycled content from Jan-25 and 30% from Jan-30.
  • Art. 6 (5) - which sets minimum recycled content targets for single-use beverage PET bottles up to 3 liters (25% by 2025, 30% by 2030) except bottles used for medical foods – is transposed without deviation.
Transposition of the EU’s mandate to reduce SUP food packaging and beverage cups
The SUP Directive's Art. 4.1 requires member states to achieve a 'a measurable quantitative reduction' of SUP beverage cups and SUP food packaging between 2022 and 2026. A notable criteria for 'food packaging' as used in the SUP Directive is that its content is meant for immediate consumption either on-the-spot or take-away, as specified in the SUP Directive Annex Part A(2)).

The draft proposes to achieve this reduction* by requiring ‘final distributors’ - i.e. fast food and take away restaurants, food delivery services – from 1-Jan-22 to: -
  • offer the same food and beverages that are sold in single-use packaging also in reusable containers (applicable to all serving sizes), not ‘at a higher price or at worse conditions’ than the single-use alternatives [the explanatory note to the draft says that a deposit does not constitute ‘a worse condition or higher price’ unless the deposit amount is set at a level so as to act a deterrent]. 
  • inform end-users clearly of the possibility of returning reusable containers/packaging at the POS or – in case of home delivery – in the media through which sales are made;
  • take-back those reusable containers/packaging that they placed on the market themselves.
Relief for small businesses: ‘Final distributors’ with at most 3 staff and a sales area of at most 50 sqm** may offer end-users to fill packaging that the end-user makes available, as an alternative to offering reusable packaging. The obligation to inform end-users applies correspondingly.
 
It should be noted that the draft goes beyond the SUP Directive by applying to single use beverage cups of any material, not only plastics**. This should ensure that final distributors do not switch from SUP cups to single-use paper based cups.

* a new section 7 is inserted into Packaging Act (§33 and §34)
** for delivery services, all storage and dispatch areas are deemed to be sales areas.
*** the SUP Directive defines ‘plastic’ as a material consisting of a polymer … and which can function as a main structural component of final products. The draft takes relevant definitions largely directly from the SUP Directive: ‘SUP packaging’ is made partly or fully of plastic*, and ‘SUP food packaging’ are items such as boxes with or without lids meant for immediate consumption, etc. Items not considered ‘SUP food packaging’ are beverage containers, beverage cups, plates, flexible packaging such as wrappers containing food.

News from Industry

  • IBM and The Alliance to End Plastic Waste to Create Data Platform to help track global plastic waste in the environment; IBM and The Alliance to End Plastic Waste to Create Data Platform to help track global plastic waste in the environmentIBM and The Alliance to End Plastic Waste to Create Data Platform to help track global plastic waste in the environment. The Alliance is a non-profit organization that brings together a community of members from across the plastics value chain to combat the global waste challenge. As part of work with the organization, IBM will collaborate with the Alliance to design a new data platform hosted on IBM Cloud to help track plastic waste and recovery globally.
  • European Plastics Pact Roadmap launched; The European Plastics Pact, which launched in Brussels on 6 March 2020, has published the European Plastics Pact Roadmap to direct and drive forward urgent action by the 143 signatories, across 20 countries. The European Plastics Pact Roadmap  sets out to help signatories develop cross-border connections and share innovations that harmonise and accelerate the Europe-wide development of a circular economy for plastics, and significantly reduce the huge challenge of plastic wastage and littering.
  • Data essential for EPR changes, says Valpak chief executive; In a video interview with letsrecycle.com, Steve Gough, chief executive of environmental compliance organisation, Valpak, has explained how recycling of packaging continued strongly during the pandemic. He highlighted how there was more material “at home and less on the go” although for WEEE there was a lost collection time with HWRCs being closed.
  • Environment Agency could annul ‘illegal PRNs’; The Environment Agency is stepping up its bid to counter illegal activities within the packaging waste system and could cancel some already-issued PRNs. Any cancellations, which would also include export PRNs, could have significant consequences for compliance schemes who are likely to have paid substantial sums to buy the PRNs and then find them invalid.
  • Local authorities need much more support to do their bit on climate; There is ongoing concern amongst local leaders and environmental organisations that local authorities are not receiving the support and resources they need to reduce emissions in their areas. Last Wednesday the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published its roadmap to show how government can meet its legally binding sixth carbon budget. Alongside this, a separate report was commissioned which emphasised the need for central government and local authorities to “work seamlessly” together to achieve their shared goal of net-zero emissions.
  • Aldi rolls out cardboard packaging across steak range in Scotland; The new packaging is being introduced on all 12 of the supermarket’s beef steak products this month and will save approximately 80 tonnes of plastic a year in Scotland. The move follows a successful trial in stores across parts of Wales, as well as the North West and South East of England. Aldi is one of the biggest retailers of ‘Scottish origin beef’ and the cardboard packaging is recyclable, once the protective film has been removed, and is sourced from sustainably-managed forests.
  • Weetabix reduces plastic packaging as it unveils sustainability report; The company’s second sustainability report has been launched, which details the initiatives the breakfast food giant has taken. Plastic reduction has been driven by creating smaller wrappers for Alpen Light bars, saving 24 tonnes of plastic per year, and removing 28% of plastic in its Weetabix wrappers, saving 102 tonnes of plastic per year. The company said it was also on track to reduce the carbon footprint of its packaging by 20% in the next year.
  • Collaboration to boost battery recycling and cancer research; A new recycling collaboration which seeks to boost UK battery recycling rates whilst providing vital funds for cancer research will today (16 December) be launched by recycling compliance scheme Ecosurety and Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading cancer research charity dedicated to saving lives through research.  From today, households can take their used batteries to one of the collection points in Cancer Research UK’s 600 stores across the UK, including 24 Cancer Research UK superstores located in retail parks.
  • Mars Food and Amcor to launch recyclable microwavable rice pouch; Mars Food is to start using recyclable mono-polypropylene plastic (PP) for its microwavable rice pouches in 2021. Working with Amcor, the project will bring to market the industry’s first food-safe, mono-material microwavable rice pouch. Launching with an initial pilot in the first half of 2021, the business has ambitions to further scale the technology across its portfolio beginning at the back half of the year.
  • 94% of Brits want more on-the-go recycling points; That’s the findings of a recent consumer research survey, conducted by the LUCID polling agency in association with Every Can Counts.  While 89% of UK respondents said that they recycle drinks packaging when at home, this number drops to just 41% when out and about.
  • Seed funding to develop world’s first fully automated MRF; Recycleye, the intelligent waste management start-up, has secured £1.2 million in seed funding to develop technology that could lead to the world’s first fully automated material recovery facility (MRF). Recycleye is using artificial intelligence and robotics to bring transparency, traceability and accountability to waste flows, enabling businesses to profit from their waste streams.  The company is tapping into the trillion-dollar automation market that currently exists within the waste management industry, creating disruptive technology that is commoditising waste, and in turn shaping removal chains into an even more valuable market opportunity than supply chains.
  • Dame Glenys Stacey to chair environmental watchdog; Dame Glenys Stacey, the acting chief regulator at Ofqual, has been selected as the government’s preferred candidate to become chair of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).
  • 102 million disposable facemasks discarded each week in the UK; A new campaign to encourage the nation to switch to reusable facemasks has been launched today (15 December), as research for North London Waste Authority (NLWA) reveals that 102 million single-use facemasks are being disposed of each week in the UK. These masks end up being thrown away or littered, creating a huge new plastic pollution problem. The poll also found that nearly one in five people (18%) think that disposable masks should go in the recycling bin, which is resulting in increased contamination issues at recycling facilities.
  • Welsh government backs project to turn waste plastic into carbon nanotubes; The Welsh government is backing a cutting-edge science project at Swansea University that changes waste plastics into highly valuable compounds for the energy industries. The government is to invest in a plastics upscaling project which has the potential to create highly-skilled jobs in Wales, the university says. Scientists are extracting carbon atoms found in waste plastics and turning them into a nanotube format that can be used for the transmission of electricity.  They are producing plastic electric cables without the copper wire inside them, which can be used in residential and industrial construction.
  • The government is backsliding on the Environment Bill before it even becomes law; The government is backsliding on the Environment Bill before it even becomes lawAfter a delay of over six months, the Environment Bill is finally back. Having just completed review by a committee of MPs in Parliament, we expect its enactment during the first part of next year. But the Bill is soon to be finalised and problems remain that must be urgently addressed.
  • Conwy pilots new digital deposit return scheme for plastic bottles; A new digital deposit return scheme for plastic bottles to be trialled at households in Conwy county. Residents of a North Wales town will soon take part in a pilot for a new digital method of tracking recycling, helping Wales on its route to a ‘zero-waste, circular economy’, the council says. The Welsh Government is joining Polytag Ltd, Conwy County Borough Council and WRAP to trial a new deposit return scheme (DRS) in Colwyn Heights, Conwy.
  • UK Plastics Pact cuts ‘unnecessary’ plastic by 40%; WRAP today (8 December) publishes its second annual report for The UK Plastics Pact showing that members have made some good progress against targets, including a reduction in the amount of plastic packaging being used, and good progress in plastic recycling at home. WRAP’s Chief Executive Marcus Gover, however, warns there are ‘significant challenges’ ahead which he says need urgent attention to keep the UK on course. “It’s great to see UK Plastics Pact members cutting unnecessary plastic packaging by 40% and increasing recycling to 50% in just one year,” he said.
  • There is no point planting trees if we don’t look after them; In case you hadn’t noticed, trees are having a moment. And you can expect them to have an even higher profile over the coming days as 2020’s National Tree Week gets under way. National Tree Week takes place at this time of year to mark the start of the planting season: trees are dormant during the winter months, so planting from November through to March gives them the best chance of hitting the ground running come the spring. Tree planting is of course a much touted panacea for our climate and pollution ills, but actually sticking them in the ground is only the beginning. Millions are being spent on tree planting initiatives, but far less cash and far fewer column inches are devoted to their aftercare.
  • UK’s first plastic-free lidless disposable coffee cup launches; The ButterflyCup – which needs no separate lid – is initially being unveiled at WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) centres across the UK. ButterflyCup says it took up the challenge of TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, after he challenged the major coffee chains to switch to a “properly recyclable” cup to solve the “takeout trash mountain” created by the 5000 coffee cups Britons throw away every minute. In his BBC documentary Hugh’s War on Waste Fearnley-Whittingstall said “Only by changing to a cup that is properly recyclable in the public waste disposal system… can they [coffee major coffee chains] justify the bold environmental claims they are making. This is a solvable problem, so let’s see them solve it.”
  • French pilot uses chemically recycled polystyrene in yogurt pots; A partnership led by Total today (7 Dec) announced that they have successfully run a pilot test aiming at using certified chemically recycled polystyrene in food grade plastic yogurt pots. The group says this is the first step of a collaborative initiative aiming at testing the use of chemically recycled polystyrene in yogurt pots, supporting the development of sustainable PS recycling in France. This test led by Total in partnership with Intraplás, expert in the extrusion of plastic sheets for the food industry, and Yoplait, key player of the yogurt sector, is an ‘important achievement’ in establishing chemical recycling as a valid route for polystyrene recycling in France, the group says.
  • Suez highlights Recycle More success in Mendip; Mendip residents recycled more than 300 extra tonnes of waste in the five weeks after Suez and the Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) rolled out their Recycle More service. Part of efforts to increase the region’s recycling rate from 52.4% in the 2018/19 financial year to 60%, the Recycle More service was introduced to around 53,000 homes in Mendip in the last week of October. Recycle More was rolled out across Mendip at the end of October. Mendip residents received a new blue bag to help them recycle items including plastic tubs, pots and trays and cartons, as well as batteries and small waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Suez says that although it is still too early to see long-term trends, the amount of residual waste collected in Mendip has fallen by roughly 20% during the same five-week period while the tonnage of recycling has jumped 11%
  • Despite new government powers to recover the oceans, still nothing is guaranteed; As the Fisheries Act receives Royal Assent, it is important to reflect where we have got to, four years after the Brexit referendum. From the outset of the legislative process, Greener UK urged the UK and devolved governments to take this once in a generation opportunity to establish the UK as world leaders in sustainable fisheries management. We set out the key elements that would be vital to achieve this. Critical was the need for fisheries management to be holistic, ie managed as an integral part of a healthy ocean ecosystem, no longer siloed off from other marine decision making. Also important was the setting of sustainable catches, based on the best science to restore fish stocks and maintain them at healthy levels. Accountability, in the form of remote electronic monitoring with cameras (REM) on vessels, was another feature that we argued should underpin sustainable management.
  • Working from home ‘boosts plastic recycling rate’, report finds; Working from home RECOUP’s recent report indicates the change in people’s lifestyles, working from home, home schooling and less travel has led to a ‘significant’ plastics recycling rate increase from household collections. Plastics Recycling member-based charity, RECOUP, have published their UK Household Plastics Collection Survey, annually, which is a full analysis of Local Authority data of plastics recycling collections alongside that known to be placed on the market. The 2020 survey covers retrospective data from 2019 and demonstrates that up until March 2020 the overall rate increased by 2%.The collection rate of plastics packaging recycling April 2019 to March 2020 is Plastic bottles – 59%; Plastic pots, tubs, and trays – 33%; Plastic film – 7%; All household plastic packaging– 39%.
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