Impartiality seen as casualty in Beeb's ‘war on plastic’
The BBC's new director-general may have reversed the decision not to sing “Rule, Britannia!” at “The Last Night of the Proms”, but Tim Davie faces another discordant chorus over the "War on Plastic" TV programme.
Even the show's title has caused consternation, with the British Plastics Federation (BPF) saying it "does not really suggest a very balanced evaluation of a complex situation. Rather, such a title seems instead to suggest that the material should be condemned in all applications".
National Flexible were similarly unimpressed, saying: "So much for the BBC's claims of impartiality. In the 60-minute programme, the BBC could not find space for anyone to put the positive case for plastic, particularly plastic packaging."
The corporation’s guidelines state: "The BBC is committed to achieving due impartiality in all its output. This commitment is fundamental to our reputation, our values and the trust of audiences."
Many people this week believe that the Beeb would better display that impartiality by taking a leaf out of the plastic industry's book.
For example, further in their response to the programme, the BPF said: "As we have stated before: the enemy is not plastic, the enemy is plastic waste."
Of course, plastic waste doesn't have to be the end of the story either, especially when recycling technologies and systems are further improved. Recycling Technologies reflected that very point this week with a seminar titled "Today's Waste, Tomorrow's Resource".
And, as another example of industry impartiality, Clear on Plastics yesterday tweeted: "It's useful to consider why plastic packaging has been used in the first place. It may be, that when compared with other materials, plastic is more durable."
The discussion rages on. As for the war, perhaps it's the truth that's under siege?
Say cheese to food-safe recycled flexible packaging
New food-safe packaging made using soft plastic collected from customers has been introduced by Tesco, with cheese being wrapped in the material.
The pioneering soft and flexible plastics recycling project is part of Tesco's Remove, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle initiative with the aim to ensure that all its packaging can be recycled.
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"Clean it, scrunch it, bin it" recycling scheme for plastic film
Co-op has launched its in-store collection scheme for plastic films such as clean yoghurt lids, crisp packets, ready meal lids, multi-buy wrappers and chocolate bar wrappers to be processed into bin liners.
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CEFLEX questions …
What do the "Designing for a Circular Economy" guidelines (D4ACE) provide for the flexible packaging industry?
Liz Morrish, Workstream Consultant and Designing for a Circular Economy Guidelines Lead, knows best.
Read Liz's answers >>
The European recycling landscape - the quiet before the storm?
CEFLEX considered the question on LinkedIn >>
US Plastics Pact signed
The US Plastics Pact has been launched in an initiative to unify stakeholders across the plastics value chain to rethink how they design, use, and reuse plastics, to create a path toward a circular economy.
Find out more >>
Role of bioplastics in a sustainable packaging future
The latest expert panel discussion from Packaging Europe today focused on the subject of the place of bioplastics in the future of sustainable packaging.
Watch the replay >>
New mono material lidding films designed for recyclability
We've been busy on many fronts and have just launched a new range of mono-polymer material lidding films, made from polypropylene (PP), which is designed for recyclability.
Find out more >>
Coming up …
14 September - Free webinar on high-pressure processing (HPP) for prepared foods by Avure.
Be prepared …
Read our article … the pressure's on: extend your shelf life with HPP.
PS: Counter-terrorism policing and customer service
What do sky-diving, yoga, and counter-terrorism policing have to do with customer service at KM? Watch this space and the answer will soon be revealed.
From the KM team … stay safe, keep up the good work, and value plastic.