WRAP has declared that it is unlikely to meet the 2025 targets of the Plastics Pact, news which will come as no surprise to those participating in the Pact itself. Indeed a fundamental lack of government policy direction and enforcement means that many companies maintain a business-as-usual approach. For more see here.
The Labour Party has announced the appointment of the new Shadow Minister of the Environment, Mr Steve Ree who has been an MP since 2012. We look forward to meeting him soon.
So-called eco-friendly paper straws may not be so friendly after all. A report finds that they often contain PFAS known as forever chemicals because of their toxic persistence in the environment. For more see here. You can find the complete report on our reports page.
DEFRA has released a policy paper outlining its waste prevention ambitions which includes a section on packaging, plastics and single-use items. It mentions that the government is considering measures to reduce the environmental impact of disposable cups and takeaway food containers, including potential charges similar to the carrier bag charge. It also plans to review [...]
DEFRA published a 12-week consultation on allowing a mass balance approach for calculating the recycled content in packaging made from chemically recycled plastic waste for the purposes of the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT). This consultation explores the case for allowing a mass balance approach, the different mass balance models, and the use of certification schemes [...]
WRAP has published its annual report highlighting its activities in the past year and the new priorities going forward. For me see here.
The Government has published its response to a consultation it ran last year on developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), confirming that 'energy from waste and incineration plants' will be included from 2028. We welcome this decision from the Government although the long timeline to implementation means four more years of untaxed mass burning.
New Zealand is leading the way on plastic bags bans, now extending bans to the sale of lightweight bags used for fruit and vegetables in supermarkets. This follows their ban on plastic carrier bags in 2019.
DEFRA has published its timetable for reporting on packaging waste in line with expectations that an EPR scheme will be implemented in 2024. Even though this may be delayed, reporting is still obligatory.
DEFRA has published the 2023 update to the 25 Year Environment Plan Outcome Indicator Framework (OIF): The update can be found here.