Veolia has launched a ‘first of its kind’ training academy to help those involved in packaging manufacture and retail to design their packaging with recyclability in mind.
The waste management company’s Sustainable Packaging Academy is designed to ‘close the link between producers and recyclers’, helping businesses to ‘future-proof’ their packaging designs, it said.
The Sustainable Packaging Academy has already attracted interest, according to Veolia
As a nationwide initiative, training will take place at Veolia’s offices and facilities across the UK, with members able to take advantage of Veolia’s knowledge of recycling technology. Those who sign up will also be given access to the latest reports and design guides, helping them to stay ahead of legislative changes.
It comes on the back of increasing public concern over the impact of plastic packaging waste on the environment and ahead of government plans to make producers pay more towards the cost of recycling their packaging, under Extended Producer Responsibility measures. This is outlined in the government’s 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy.
The Academy is aimed at anyone who is involved in packaging design, environment, supply chain or sustainability roles in key sectors such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, retail or packaging manufacture.
Impact
Richard Kirkman, chief technology and innovation officer at Veolia UK and Ireland, said: “We all know the impact of packaging on the environment, and the launch of our Sustainable Packaging Academy will further strengthen our work with manufacturers, industry bodies, and local authorities in the drive to ensure that it is all recyclable.
“If we are to deliver on the huge surge in public interest in our sector we must put the Resources & Waste strategy into practice in a way that can be understood by people inside, and outside, the industry.
“Our all-in one service now delivers the expertise needed to understand packaging recyclability and make the right design decisions, and can help develop joint solutions or new recycling processes. In the move to cut climate change and target net zero carbon it’s vital that we address the real impact packaging has – and the SPA will help do just that.”
Plastics
Veolia highlighted that many plastic packaging items in particular are currently not designed to be recycled, meaning that only half of plastic packaging gets recycled while the average recycling rate for all packaging is around 70%.
“We want to help them make the best pragmatic decision to ensure their packaging recyclability and sustainability”, it said.
Visitors on a tour of Veolia’s Southwark recycling facility
‘Unique’
Commenting on what makes the service different, the company said: “This is a unique opportunity for manufacturers and retailers to work with a waste management leader to understand what really happens to their packaging when sent to the recycling infrastructure.
“By opening our doors and having this discussion with producers, we aim to close the loop and overcome existing challenges on packaging circularity. Depending on their current knowledge, and the extent of their packaging challenge, manufacturers and retailers have very different needs, this is why we want our SPA service to be flexible and adapted to everyone : some with less knowledge will need a full introduction to the recycling process through a workshop in our facility, while more advanced producers will want to go further and trial new packaging design in our infrastructure.
“So anyone interested should contact us and we will find the best way to support them through their packaging sustainability journey.”
For details of how to join the Academy please contact: uk.spa@veolia.com
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Source: letsrecycle.com Packaging
