How proper recycling can help reduce waste from packaging
As schemes that could potentially see Welsh residents face penalties for recycling incorrectly become more common across the country, many will likely be re-examining the levels of waste packaging they generate on a weekly basis. A quick inspection of you
MUCH like opening a shaken bottle of pop, discussions around single-use plastics will inevitably result with an explosion of opinions.
Consumers say that they want to be more sustainable, yet the market data shows that we are buying more plastic packaging than ever before.
Governments across Europe are taking careful consideration over policy, but are forced to admit it is not a simple problem to solve.
As part of our efforts to support the growth of the Welsh drinks sector, the Welsh Drinks Cluster is working with the country’s growing water and soft drinks businesses to support its goal to provide consumers with more sustainable options.
The first step is to understand how most consumers feel about and use plastics, or to give them their industry name, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products.
Today, plastic awareness is at an all-time high, programmes like Blue Planet have made us all consider the hidden parts of the plastic supply chain.
Things that many of us suspected, but can no-longer ignore. There is barely a week that goes by when water and soft drinks businesses aren’t targeted for the packaging that they use.
The term “single-use” has seen a four-fold increase since 2013, yet data shows that PET consumption is increasing.
Put simply, when it comes to convenience, such as grabbing a drink on the go, we’ll pick up a resealable plastic bottle.
The inconvenient truth is that products purchased in this situation are generally less recycled afterwards than those used in the home.
This contradiction was highlighted in a piece of consumer research work commissioned by the Welsh Drinks Cluster that stated that 56% of consumers who have drunk a bottle of water feel guilty about the plastic waste it generates.
So, is it the case that we need more sustainable alternatives?
Recently we have seen several major multinational brands announcing the use of 100% recycled material.
The demand for products made from recycled plastics is high, so much so that the availability of quality recycled material is at a premium.
This situation is causing many producers, including those in Wales to consider how they can diversify the range of packaging they use, to ensure that consumers have options when selecting a beverage from the fridge.
However, it also clear that working towards reducing the amount of new plastic products being produced requires industry and consumers working together.
Reducing the overall amount of waste we produce as consumers means ensuring that the used packaging we do create is correctly recycled, repurposed and reused.
The Circular Economy concept championed by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation outlines the adoption of three principles, design out waste, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.
This system keeps resources in use for as long as possible to reduce waste, drive resource productivity and reduce environmental impacts