To 2025 the UK Plastics Pact the UK Plastics Pact – a Roadmap to 2025 Setting the Scene
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Roadmap to 2025 The UK Plastics Pact The UK Plastics Pact – A Roadmap to 2025 Setting the scene The UK Plastics Pact is transforming The targets for 2025 are1: Who is involved? The Roadmap to 2025 the way that the UK makes, uses and The UK Plastics Pact has 68 business This Roadmap shows what disposes of plastic. We need to move 1 members, representing retail, The UK Plastics Pact members away from a linear plastics economy Eliminate problematic or manufacturing, hospitality, the plastic and supporters can do to deliver towards a circular system where we unnecessary single-use packaging supply sector, plastic recycling and The UK Plastics Pact targets, with capture the value of plastics material through redesign, innovation or resource management. Together, key outcomes by the end of year 1 – keeping plastic in the economy alternative (reuse) delivery models WRAP estimates these members are (April 2019), end-2022 and end-2025. and out of the oceans. The UK responsible for over 80% of the plastic It aims to inspire members and Plastics Pact brings together packaging on products sold through UK supporters to act, and to galvanise 2 governments, businesses, local supermarkets, and approximately 50% wider action by governments, 100% of plastics packaging to be authorities, citizens and NGOs of the total plastic packaging placed funders, investors, NGOs and reusable, recyclable or compostable behind a common vision and on the UK market. The UK Plastics Pact businesses who are not members of commitment to a set of ambitious 3 also has 36 supporting organisations The UK Plastics Pact. Achieving the targets. WRAP launched The UK (mainly trade and sector associations, targets will bring huge benefits for 70% of plastics packaging Plastics Pact in April 2018, working in technology and data companies) and the UK, however, it will require tough effectively recycled or composted partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Defra, the Welsh Government and the decisions to be made, significant Foundation (EMF) to create the first Scottish Government are all behind The investment and some compromise. national implementation of the 4 UK Plastics Pact2. In order to achieve the This Roadmap is a living document vision for a New Plastics Economy. 30% average recycled content targets policy intervention is required, and will evolve in future versions. across all plastic packaging however, we should not wait for this. Nearly 70% of all plastic waste in the Together we can, together we will! UK is packaging, so this is the focus of Reducing the use of plastic is critical – The UK Plastics Pact. by avoiding unnecessary packaging, eliminating non-recyclable packaging, encouraging reuse and switching to other materials or business models where beneficial. However, we must guard against changes that adversely affect greenhouse gas emissions, 1 Targets 1, 2 and 4 refer to items or packaging under consumer safety, product protection the control of The UK Plastics Pact members and are collective targets. Target 3 refers to all UK plastic and food waste. packaging including household, commercial and industrial. 2 Membership figures correct as at November 2018. The Roadmap is subject to modification including to reflect any changes made to The UK Plastics Pact targets. Setting the scene Progress to date Target 1 Target 2 Target 3 Target 4 Challenges 1 & 2 Challenges 3 & 4 Action 2 The UK Plastics Pact PROGRESS TO DATE Collaborative action is at the Amongst other activities, four work Film & flexibles recycling – films UK consumer plastic packaging heart of The UK Plastics Pact, and streams (collaborative action groups) comprise 26% of all consumer plastic composition by format and polymer mobilisation is in five stages. The have been initiated, focusing on: packaging by weight and even greater kt first priorities were the initiation and by item. This group will focus on ambition that WRAP agreed with Measurement and reporting – (i) front of store collections; (ii) kerbside 600 EMF, leading businesses and UK agreeing how to report characteristics collections; and (iii) end markets. WRAP governments ahead of launch. An of plastic packaging placed on the has initiated trials to identify markets 500 Advisory Group guides the strategic UK market by members, from a 2017 for recycled PE/PP film. direction of The UK Plastics Pact, baseline. The final reporting form and 400 and its current members are Tesco, guidance are being developed. M&S, Ella’s Kitchen, ABP Beef, Veolia, We have initiated The UK Plastics 300 Plastipak, EMF, Local Government Recyclability – defining criteria and Pact without having identified all Association, Defra and Greenpeace. guidance for recyclable, reusable the solutions to achieve the targets – 200 and compostable plastic packaging research and innovation will be essential. and agreeing what is ‘good’ in terms WRAP is exploring various sources of 100 of packaging design choices (e.g. innovation funding to support flagship polymer and decoration choices). Also, projects that address key barriers to a 0 Film Bottles PTT Other considering how to embed this across more circular plastics economy. MEASUREMENT INITIATION & EVALUATION & SET-UP businesses and inspire good practice. baseline convener, sponsors These targets will not be achieved & progress & members PE PP PET PVC PS Other Problematic & unnecessary without citizens playing their part. WRAP single-use plastic items – developing has refocused its Recycle Now campaign PTT = pots, tubs and trays. ESTABLISHING criteria for ‘problematic & unnecessary’ onto plastic packaging and developed Other = caps, pumps, lids, tubes, blister packs, wrappers, ACTIONS AMBITION clothes hangers etc. roadmap focus, targets & and considering how these problems a new campaign toolkit for partners. PE data is all high density, low and medium density timescales for action could be solved e.g. through The focused plastics campaigns have Source: Plasticflow 2025. GOVERNANCE elimination, reuse models, design, reached more than 17.5 million people & FUNDING recycling infrastructure, education etc. in 2018. Engaging citizens on prevention income & Significant advances in recycling of structure and reuse will form part of a new citizen films and pots, tubs and trays (PTT) engagement strategy. are required to meet The UK Plastics Pact targets. Examples of The UK Plastics Pact member activity in the first six months are available here. Setting the scene Progress to date Target 1 Target 2 Target 3 Target 4 Challenges 1 & 2 Challenges 3 & 4 Action 3 Roadmap for Target 1 (The UK plastics Pact members) Eliminate problematic or unneceSSary single-use packaging KEY OUTCOMES Identify materials/items commonly regarded as problematic based on agreed criteria* (likely to be tackled in phases** with ongoing review). KEY OUTCOMES Initial phase solutions adopted by Pact Solutions adopted for all identified members or plans in place to do so. materials/items in UK operations. Plan and timetable in place for later phase Evidence that it is becoming a social norm materials/items. to adopt these solutions. KEY OUTCOMES Identified list of materials/items reviewed BY APRIL to ensure ongoing improvement. Items originally identified as highly problematic, are no longer considered 2019 to be so. 1 BY END KEY ACTIVITIES 2022 Publish criteria of what is classed as problematic, along with a list of items and options to tackle them. KEY ACTIVITIES BY END Initial phase of materials/items reviewed with suppliers and the actions required to All materials/items reviewed with suppliers 2025 tackle them identified. and actions required to tackle them identified. Internal systems set up to measure and Adoption of high profile citizen engagement KEY ACTIVITIES report progress against the target. campaigns and interventions. Criteria for ‘problematic’ and list of Packaging supply chain help Pact members materials/items reviewed. to identify alternative solutions. WRAP develops strategy to engage citizens to help play their part in eliminating problematic plastics. *The criteria to include: avoidable, inability to recycle/compost, reuse alternatives, leakage into the environment, cause of contaminations and perception. **Phases will be based on impact and ability/time to influence. Setting the scene Progress to date Target 1 Target 2 Target 3 Target 4 Challenges 1 & 2 Challenges 3 & 4 Action 4 Roadmap for Target 2 (The UK plastics Pact members) 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging KEY OUTCOMES KEY OUTCOMES Consensus on what should be classed Periodic review of what packaging currently as ‘recyclable’ for consumer rigid placed-on-market in 2022 is ‘recyclable’. packaging. This will be reviewed periodically Likely outcome: in order to ensure it reflects current materials • All rigid packaging and bottles comply and infrastructure. Non-recyclable packaging with the agreed definition of ‘recyclable’ KEY OUTCOMES materials are likely to include PVC and PS in • All packs have yes/no on-pack labelling. Periodic review of what packaging food packaging. placed-on-market in 2025 is ‘recyclable’. All new products use packaging that is in line A yes/no labelling system based on the Likely outcome: with the recyclability designations and good agreed recyclability designations and aligned • 100% of packaging placed on the practice in design. with OPRL. market by members complies with the Producer responsibility and The UK Plastics agreed definition of ‘recyclable’ Pact definitions of recyclability aligned. • Reusable systems are more mainstream. BY APRIL