The OPRL (On-Pack Recycling Label Ltd) has appointed waste management academic and former CIWM President, Professor Margaret Bates, as its executive director.
The not-for-profit company – which operates the UK-wide recycling label scheme used by over 400 member companies and charities – announced the appointment this morning (December 10).
The On-Pack Recycling Label is already used by over 600 brands
Professor Bates will lead the team established in OPRL’s new Banbury offices, charged with making the voluntary recycling labelling scheme ‘match fit for mandatory’. At present the label is voluntary but the government is currently reviewing labelling requirements.
The role will also involve the ongoing development of services to support members in preparing for extended producer responsibility reforms and continuing both to grow and expand the breadth of OPRL membership, the company explained.
Role
The move marks a big change for Professor Bates, who has worked at the University of Northampton for over 20 years and has been professor of Sustainable Waste Management since 2012. She is due to leave her post at the university to take up her new role in mid February 2020.
She is a well-known figure in the waste industry, having also held the post of CIWM president in 2016/17 and most recently chair of CIWM’s executive committee.
Speaking to letsreycle.com today about her appointment, Professor Bates said: “I am very excited but also terrified. But I would not leave the university for something I did not believe in”.
She added: “Coming from a science background, the idea of having a label that is totally evidence-based is really important. There are concerns now that some people are making environmental claims and we have issues with greenwashing. Having a label that is really robust and you can trust is what counts.”
Confusion
Margaret Bates hopes to make the OPRL simpler
Professor Bates said that there was still a lot of confusion among householders about what and was not recyclable. She added that the ‘green dot’ swoosh symbol – which demonstrates compliance with producer responsibility in Europe – was also confusing “as it doesn’t mean anything here”.
When asked if the current OPRL – which describes if packaging is widely recycled, check local recycling or not currently recycled – could be improved she said that “no system is perfect and things that couldn’t be recycled before are now widely recycled so we need a robust review.”
She added: “The public are crying out for something. Hopefully with more consistency we can make a more binary label – recycled or not recycled. The clearer and simpler we can make the message the better.”
The appointment comes as OPRL prepares to launch the latest revision of its Recycling Labelling Rules adopting ISO 14021 methodology and strengthens compliance audits to ISO 19011 standards.
‘Delighted’
Jane Bevis, Chair of OPRL Ltd, said: “We are delighted to appoint Margaret as executive director, a role important at any time but critical at this point in our development as a circularity services company. Her track record as a highly respected and independent researcher and commentator on key issues affecting our sector makes her the ideal person to lead OPRL through the big changes we are navigating currently.
“Her deep and broad knowledge of the strategic issues our sector faces, together with her extensive networks within both the industry and academia, give her a unique, evidence-led perspective that fits perfectly with our mission and values.”
Ms Bevis also thanked outgoing executive director Stuart Lendrum, who took up the role of Head of Packaging at Iceland Foods in March this year, having been executive director at OPRL on a part-time basis since February 2018.
OPRL was launched by the BRC in March 2009 with support from WRAP. More then 600 brands have already signed up to the scheme which is voluntary.
The post OPRL appoints Margaret Bates as executive director appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Packaging
