Circular economy specialist, Axion, has launched a ‘Design for Recycling’ service to help ensure that packaging placed on the market has been optimised for end of life.
The service is aimed at a range of stakeholders in the food and beverage supply chain, including packaging designers, food manufacturers, brand owners and retailers.
Black PET trays are one example of packaging which can be easily redesigned, Axion said
Axion said these stakeholders have a vested interest in increasing the recyclability of plastic packaging and addressing the “growing global problem” of pollution from short life, high profile products.
Plastics
The service also supports those working with industry initiatives to increase the recyclability of plastics and develop end markets for recycled plastics, the company said. These include Courtauld 2025, the Plastics Industry Recycling Action Plan (PIRAP), the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) and the new Plastics Economy Project.
Axion notes, according to latest WRAP figures, in 2016, nearly 70% of the UK’s plastic packaging waste that was collected for recycling was exported, mainly to the Far East. And, with tighter restrictions coming into effect for sending recyclables to China, the company warns this level of export is “unsustainable”.
To ensure recycling targets are met, ‘design for recycling’ will play a “vital” role in developing a more robust domestic recycling infrastructure, Axion argued.
Commenting on the need for the service, Richard McKinlay, Axion’s head of circular economy, explained: “The spotlight is very much on plastics. Momentum is building as the issue of how we manage packaging waste is climbing up the agendas of every nation.
“On the horizon, there’s going to be a push on producer responsibility that will require packaging to be collected and recycled. Brand owners taking action now on their packaging designs can future-proof them against forthcoming issues.”
Service
According to Axion, its service is based on in-depth understanding and practical experience of the resource recovery sector, including the design, build and operation of its own plastics recycling facilities. Existing products or new packaging designs are reviewed to give an evaluation of the recyclability.
“The spotlight is very much on plastics. Momentum is building as the issue of how we manage packaging waste is climbing up the agendas of every nation.”
Richard McKinlay
Axion
“Our analysis helps clients to understand how their packaging will be treated at end of life and how this is impacted by the design of the pack,” said Mr McKinlay. “By identifying the characteristics that reduce the material’s value at end of life, we can suggest alternative choices that can be more readily recycled.
“To encourage investment in recycling plants, operators need to know that they will get sufficient yield and quality. So the producers putting packaging on the market that allows them to achieve those targets would help to stimulate the market,” added Mr McKinlay.
Talking to letsrecycle.com, Mr Mckinlay said the company will look at any packaging and gave the example of black PET trays. He said this product is difficult to recycle, but can be easily improved/changed by replacing the black pigment in the material.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Packaging
