Members of the public would support steps to mandate a common standard for the collection of packaging materials from the kerbside, according to research by INCPEN and WRAP published today (16 July).
Packaging industry group INCPEN – the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment – and resources charity WRAP released the results of a survey canvassing more than 6,000 people over their views on packaging and food.
The survey highlighted that food waste and packaging from UK supermarkets has risen up the public agenda
In a joint statement, the two groups say the results highlight that the British public supports the idea of mandating requirements for packaging to be made of recyclable materials, and also to have a consistent dry-recycling collection service at kerbsides across the UK.
A national recycling standard, however, would not mean councils all have to have the same coloured bins, for example, or impact any other aspects of council collections such as food or garden waste.
Plans for councils in England to collect a consistent set of recyclable materials from households are among the proposals being considered by government through the Resources and Waste Strategy.
Survey
The survey was carried out towards the end of 2018 and built on a similar study conducted in 2012. The latest results highlighted that food waste and the way food is packaged have both risen up the agenda,as outlined below.
Food waste and packaging both jumped in the last six years (click to enlarge)
When asked to select up to five food issues that most concern them 40% choose food waste (ranking 2nd), compared to 33% in 2012. Likewise, just over one in four (28%) choose the way that food products are packaged (ranking 7th), compared to 16% in 2012 when it was notably a low-ranking issue. The price of food remained top of the public agenda for both years.
By contrast, how long fresh food lasts for remains a key issue but nonetheless one that concerns fewer consumers than before. Almost one in three (32%) are concerned about this issue (ranking 4th), compared to almost half (48%) in 2012 (when it ranked 2nd, behind only the price of food).
Policy
Commenting on the survey, Paul Vanston, chief executive of INCPEN, said: “In this survey the public has picked up a giant megaphone and amplified the calls by retailers, brands and the government for a National Recycling Standard.
Paul Vanston, chief executive of INCPEN
“Delivering what the public wants requires a massive and speedy joint effort by all parts of the packaging value chain. We can take confidence that the packaging reforms proposed by all four nations in the recent consultations, as well as the work of the UK Plastics Pact and Courtauld 2025, are all in line with what citizens want policy makers and the value chain to get on and deliver.”
Design
This was echoed by Peter Maddox, director at WRAP UK, who said: “Food packaging remains high on the news agenda, and in the minds of the public who want to see action. Through The UK Plastics Pact, our members are driving systemic change which is the only way we will tackle plastic pollution at scale.
“It is important to remember that well designed packaging is very effective, and demonising it is not helpful. So it is heartening to see that almost half of respondents want to see packaging that is fully recyclable as their topmost action.”
“It is important to remember that well designed packaging is very effective, and demonising it is not helpful.”
Support for the research also came from the Packaging Federation, the Kent Resource Partnership, the British Retail Consortium and the Food and Drink Federation.
Dick Searle, chief executive at the Packaging Federation, said: “Food waste is a massive global issue with 40% of food never eaten contributing hugely to global warming. Packaging plays a vital role in preserving food in the supply chain and the home and it’s great to see growing recognition of this by consumers.
“In the UK we are privileged to have a plentiful supply of inexpensive food but a huge amount is still wasted in the home. We can all do our bit to reduce this by following the storage instructions on the packaging to keep our food “Fresher For Longer”.
The post General public ‘supports recycling standard’ appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Packaging
