FOR STARTERS …
PLASTIC PACKAGING TAX FEARS
Packaging manufacturers and industry bodies fear the new UK Plastic Packaging Tax lacks the necessary detail to effectively reduce fossil fuel-based material usage and will instead punish businesses actively attempting to lower their carbon footprint.
Also, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) says the legislation, which came into force on April 1, contains a critical oversight – many plastics that come into contact with contaminants such as food cannot be recycled and should be exempt.
FULL VALUE OF RECYCLED CONTENT
The Plastic Packaging Tax is being charged at a rate of £200 per tonne, and it is believed that some businesses may initially consider that price to be more cost-effective than investing in PCR for their packaging.
However, other value considerations include the actions of competitors, customer preferences, corporate sustainability goals, and the vital role PCR plays in meeting global circular economy targets.
We have explored the value of PCR in our latest blog article.
Plus, our press release on the Plastic Packaging Tax topic has generated much interest, including within Sustainable Packaging News.
FREE TAX TOOL
The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has launched a free online tool to help companies ascertain whether or not their products qualify for the upcoming Plastics Packaging Tax.
GOLDEN RULES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
A group of major brand owners, recyclers, and plastics associations have developed a set of “Golden Design Rules” for sustainable packaging. They include:
- Remove problematic elements.
- Eliminate excess headspace.
- Reduce plastic overwraps.
- Increase recycling value in flexible packaging.
The rules are intended to provide a simple entry point to help companies prioritise and deliver the most important design changes needed across their plastic packaging portfolio.
SOARING COSTS CONCERN
Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) have issued a statement about the concern surrounding high raw material costs and current energy prices.
They have said those increases combined with availability issues have serious financial impacts on the flexible packaging supply chain.
“We are convinced that the peak is not reached yet,” commented Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director of FPE.
FRUITFUL SOLUTIONS
Coinciding with the Fruit Logistica international trade show, Proseal and Packaging Automation have highlighted their tray sealing solutions for soft fruit.
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS
Here at KM, we’ve recently published more information about our flexible solutions, including:
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
World Recycling Day has come and gone, but sustainability is on our minds all year round, including designing for recyclability through mono material lidding film solutions.
Supermarkets are still leading the way by providing customers with shop-and-drop facilities to recycle their flexible packaging. Iceland is the latest retailer to fully participate, having rolled out new collection bins at its stores across the UK for customers to recycle flexible plastic packaging.
We have highlighted who is doing what on the stores front and Wrap has provided a Recycling Locator tool as part of its new Repeat the Cycle campaign.
We’re also a REDcycle partner, helping our customers to develop recycling-suitable solutions in Australia.
PS: Here’s what CEFLEX and stakeholders are doing to help accelerate a circular economy for flexible packaging.
NEWS BITES
- Cool winner: Upmarket chilled meals manufacturer Charlie Bigham's won the top trophy at the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards.
- Use-by “dated”: More than 40 food and drink brands have signed up for an initiative to move away from use-by labels.
- Cost of war: The effects on the food and agricultural sector of the war in Ukraine will be “profound” with ramifications across the food chain, a leading economist has claimed.
- High-pressure effectiveness: Food's high-pressure processing (HPP) is effective at destroying harmful microorganisms. However, according to the European Food Safety Authority, HPP is not as effective on milk and some ready-to-eat foods.
HPP is often used on already-packaged food, and we have suitable films in our K Peel and K Seal ranges that are particularly effective and resistant to the rigours of the process.
AND FINALLY FOR FUN … some problem-solving thinking space.
From the KM team … stay safe, keep up the good work, and value plastic.