Packaging, Plastics and Recycling

Comment: New UK tax on plastic packaging seems to be working

Envirotec Magazine

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Abigail McGregor suggested “progress may stall if additional recycling capacity isn’t built.” The UK Plastic Packaging tax places a £200 per tonne levy on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content. Building greater capacity for recycling is imperative.”

Packaging

Will 2025 plastic packaging commitments ring hollow?

GreenBiz

MARCH 10, 2023

In 2025, there will be media and consumer outrage around all the failed commitments related to eliminating virgin plastic packaging and increasing the use of recycled material.

Packaging

Packaging Plastics Recycled materials Recycling

Recycling solution available for customer-returned soft plastic packaging at Tesco

Envirotec Magazine

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Over 900 Tesco stores now have collection points for plastic recycling. A new partnership between Tesco and packaging manufacturer Berry Global is now recycling soft plastic collected from customers at Tesco stores. There it is washed, scrubbed and dried, during which processes any unwanted items are removed.

Plastics

Plastics Packaging Recycling Recycling

A new ‘supercritical water’ approach to recycling plastic packaging waste

Envirotec Magazine

FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Supercritical water can be a solvent for all organic materials including plastics. Its gas-like penetration power makes it a superior medium to decompose mixtures of complex waste plastics into value-added materials, which are feedstock for manufacturing new plastics. Above the critical point of 374.5

Plastics

Plastic recycling does work says recycling industry group

Envirotec Magazine

JULY 13, 2022

The Recycling Association’s chief executive Simon Ellin has warned that the people behind the Big Plastic Count (an event co-organised by Greenpeace) were “irresponsible” for recent comments saying plastic recycling doesn’t work and for sowing seeds of doubt in the public mind.

Recycling

Recycling Recycling Plastics Packaging

Plastic packaging innovators spotlighted at the 2024 RECOUP Awards

Envirotec Magazine

OCTOBER 1, 2024

Plastic recycling charity RECOUP received a record number of entries for its annual awards, which showcase the work being done throughout the plastics value chain in re-use, recycling, and re-design. Several initiatives that facilitate these activities in consumer product packaging won awards.

Plastics

Plastics Packaging Innovation Recycling

New service to help businesses assess recyclability of their packaging

Envirotec Magazine

AUGUST 8, 2024

Sustainable packaging provider DS Smith has introduced a service for businesses to evaluate the recyclability levels of their packaging (“the first integrated paper, packaging, and recycling company to do so.”).

Packaging

750,000 tonnes of household plastic packaging goes uncaptured

Envirotec Magazine

DECEMBER 9, 2022

Plastic resource efficiency and recycling charity RECOUP estimates that 750,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic packaging is not currently collected for recycling, in its new UK Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey report.

Packaging

Study pinpoints pathways to boost plastic waste recycling globally

Envirotec Magazine

DECEMBER 14, 2023

A new study highlights potential pathways to significantly increase waste collection and plastic recycling rates globally. These countries have plastic recycling rates of up to 10 per cent. Examples of countries include Indonesia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Examples of countries include China, Mexico and Australia.

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling Waste

Growth in UK plastic packaging recycling being shipped abroad, including to non-OECD countries

Envirotec Magazine

JANUARY 24, 2024

By Tom McBeth, Policy & Infrastructure Manager with plastics resource efficiency group RECOUP New data reveals an increase in the amount of plastic exported for recycling in 2023, and significant quantities are now going to developing, non-OECD* countries. Indonesia took a further 3.4%, and Taiwan 2.5%.

Recycling

Recycling Recycling Plastics Packaging

Remind packaging designers to remember the basics, says recycling group

Envirotec Magazine

AUGUST 23, 2022

Plastics recycling charity RECOUP has called on packaging designers and specifiers not to forget the basics when it comes to plastic packaging recyclability. Although current trends may seek to explore new innovations in packaging, often the fundamentals for designing for recyclability are forgotten.

Packaging

Funding for plastic recycling tech

Envirotec Magazine

JANUARY 21, 2021

Greenback Recycling Technologies , a company striving to develop circular solutions for packaging waste, has closed an approximately £8m series A financing round. The firm says it is building a globally distributed, decentralised network of advanced recycling plants near the sources of plastic waste.

Recycling

Recycling Recycling Plastics Packaging

Consortium project will capture and recycle more plastic packaging

Envirotec Magazine

JULY 27, 2022

A three-year £10 million large-scale demonstrator project focused on the capture, recovery and recycling of plastic packaging currently lost to landfill and incineration is being led by resource recovery expert Fiberight.

Packaging

Winners of the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2022 announced

Envirotec Magazine

JUNE 23, 2022

Winners of the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2022 were announced on 23 June at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam. The seven winners are: • Automotive, Electrical or Electronic Product: Sustainable modular headliner for vehicle interiors and downstream recycling solutions by Grupo Antolin.

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling Europe

These startups seek to close the supply-and-demand gap for recycled plastics

GreenBiz

JULY 25, 2022

Corporations want to increase recycled plastic content in packaging and products but can't get enough of it. These three companies are making moves to help address this need.

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling Startups

Moving beyond 100% recyclable goals

GreenBiz

JANUARY 28, 2021

Moving beyond 100% recyclable goals. Numerous companies have set 100 percent recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging goals such as Colgate-Palmolive and Kellogg. Virtually all these companies, though, are not tracking whether their packaging is actually recycled and what new products their packaging becomes.

Recycling

Recycling Recycling Packaging Plastics

Packaging materials usage snapshot profiles mixed progress

Envirotec Magazine

AUGUST 15, 2024

Domestic recycling of aluminium packaging has remained static over the 2015-2022 period, while waste exports grew rapidly. Product manufacturers’ use of packaging materials has decreased since 2019, says a new report from environmental compliance scheme Valpak.

Packaging

A 20/20 view of sustainable packaging

GreenBiz

JUNE 15, 2020

A 20/20 view of sustainable packaging. Sustainable packaging is a keystone issue for corporate sustainability. As one of the first environmental concerns companies began to tackle proactively, interest and efforts had notable resurgence in the last few years, partly spurred by the attention on ocean plastic. . Cheryl Baldwin.

Packaging

Packaging Sustainability Recycling Recycling

The US Plastics Pact releases design-for-circularity playbooks

Envirotec Magazine

AUGUST 27, 2024

The US Plastics Pact has released its Design for Circularity Playbooks , described as essential reports designed to guide the lifecycle of plastics in the US. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the group aims to drive systemic change across the plastics value chain.

Plastics

Crunch time for plastic packaging recycling? Group comments on report

Envirotec Magazine

NOVEMBER 25, 2021

The plastics recycling member-based charity RECOUP has published its 2021 UK Household Plastics Collection Survey , which analyses the collection of plastics for recycling from Local Authorities. The 2021 Survey estimated that 584,000 tonnes of household plastic packaging was collected for recycling in 2020.

Packaging

5 sustainable packaging developments to watch in 2021

GreenBiz

JANUARY 4, 2021

5 sustainable packaging developments to watch in 2021. For companies with sustainable packaging goals, 2025 is fast approaching. That’s the year when many have pledged to become zero waste, or to use 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging. That is, how will stakeholders meet their recycling goals?

Packaging

Packaging Sustainability Recycling Recycling

Plastic recycling innovations sought for Recoup 2024 awards

Envirotec Magazine

MARCH 12, 2024

The Plastic recycling charity behind the RECOUP Awards 2024 says entries are now open. For more information about sponsorship packages, contact RECOUP Events and Membership Manager, Rebecca Davis, rebecca.davis@RECOUP.org To book your ticket for The RECOUP Conference please visit the RECOUP website, [link].

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling Innovation

NIR test programme reveals factors influencing sorting flexible packaging materials

Envirotec Magazine

DECEMBER 14, 2023

A major international collaboration to provide independent, scientific data linked to design, sortability and mechanical recyclability of flexible packaging has published its first report – with a focus on Near Infrared (NIR) technology.

Packaging

Circularity: Innovative Solutions to Address the Plastic Challenge

GreenBiz

JANUARY 17, 2023

Plastics Pact and Walmart announced the winners of the first Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award, showing exciting innovations in the areas of recyclability, compostability, refill and reuse. At VERGE 2022, the U.S.

Plastics

Plastics Innovation Packaging Recycling

Walgreens Boots Alliance exec talks plastic, packaging and COVID-19

GreenBiz

MARCH 1, 2021

Walgreens Boots Alliance exec talks plastic, packaging and COVID-19. During our conversation, we also discussed Ellis’ long-term CSR priorities, the company’s packaging goals and its partnership with Loop. One of those is reducing plastics in Boots-owned brand packaging, in line with the UK Plastics Pact 2025.

Packaging

Packaging Plastics Climate change Waste

Notpla plant-based packaging is helping the world plastic problem

Inhabitat - Innovation

JANUARY 28, 2022

Notpla is a packaging solutions company. They're not just using recycled cardboard or eliminating plastic foam. They're redesigning the very idea of what packaging is and how it functions. As a result, the innovative products rolling off the line at the company are plant based and waste free.

Packaging

Households waste over one billion items every year that could be recycled

Envirotec Magazine

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The UK’s annual Recycle Week launches today (15 October) with a warning that households are wasting over one billion items every year that could be recycled. New statistics reveal millions of recyclable bottles, sprays and toilet roll tubes are facing incineration, or landfill (words: WRAP).

Recycling

Recycling Recycling Waste Waste

Simpler Recycling won’t boost recycling rates says North London waste authority

Envirotec Magazine

DECEMBER 1, 2023

Recycling efforts by north London’s two million residents will not be significantly boosted by the new Simpler Recycling proposals, the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has warned. Cllr Loakes said: “The Government should be making a herculean effort to ensure that producers minimise packaging that needs recycling or disposal.

Recycling

Recycling Recycling Waste Waste

Waste crime will not be solved by banning plastic exports, says recycling trade association

Envirotec Magazine

NOVEMBER 8, 2022

The Recycling Association has warned that waste crime will continue to happen, even if exports of plastics for recycling are banned. MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have called for the Government to ban exports of recyclable plastics by 2027 and introduce measures to reduce them before then.

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling Waste

The U.S. Plastics Pact launches new initiative to redesign the plastics value chain at Circularity 20

GreenBiz

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020

Plastics Pact launches new initiative to redesign the plastics value chain at Circularity 20. recycling market has been in free fall since 2018, when China, Malaysia, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries announced that they would no longer import many types of recyclable material scraps. Plastics Pact.

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling Waste

Report explores the intersection of sustainable packaging and PFAS

Envirotec Magazine

JUNE 10, 2024

Sona Dadhania, Senior Technology Analyst at market intelligence firm IDTechEx looks at where PFAS has been used in food packaging, recent legislation mandating its removal, and alternative materials being explored.

Packaging

Packaging Sustainability Plastics Waste

Report identifies bottleneck in UK plastic recycling infrastructure

Envirotec Magazine

OCTOBER 25, 2022

Plastics resource efficiency and recycling charity RECOUP has published its 2022 UK Plastic Packaging Sorting & Reprocessing Infrastructure report, which reported that there is a clear bottleneck in the UK’s recycling infrastructure for plastic recycling.

Plastics

How BASF’s reciChain aims to improve traceability of recycled plastics

GreenBiz

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

How BASF’s reciChain aims to improve traceability of recycled plastics. The vision for BASF’s reciChain project is to take circularity into the real world by increasing traceability of recycled plastics. The company created a plastic additive that enables the traceability.

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling North America

Conference programme announced for Plastics Recycling Show Europe virtual event

Envirotec Magazine

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

Organisers have confirmed the full conference programme for the Plastics Recycling Show Europe Virtual Event taking place 9-11 December 2020. Fellow panellists include Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) and Maria Ciliberti, Vice President at Borealis. Virginijus Sinkevi?ius, CET on 10 December.

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling Europe

This acquisition could help make sustainable packaging the norm

GreenBiz

JANUARY 29, 2021

This acquisition could help make sustainable packaging the norm . Petersburg, Florida, a manufacturing giant is strategizing on design, development and packaging services for the likes of Apple, Cisco Systems and HP Inc. Deonna Anderson. Fri, 01/29/2021 - 00:30. Across the U.S. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Packaging

Packaging Sustainability Plastics Recycling

Firms target hard to recycle plastic packaging reduction with biodegradable alternative

Envirotec Magazine

AUGUST 5, 2020

Packaging firm DS Smithand and Aquapak, a developer of biodegradable polymer, are teaming up to develop sustainable fibre based packaging solutions that they say will replace hard to recycle packaging made from combined materials such as cardboard and plastic. Hydropol resin pellets.

Biodegradable

Biodegradable Packaging Recycling Recycling

Two Words: Plastic Recycling

Energy Central

OCTOBER 24, 2024

Plastics are one of the primary packaging materials used by our consumer economy. This paper’s title function is a difficult process, mainly due to the great number of different types of plastic, along with methods used to recycle each. Without recycling, consumer plastic ends up being plastic pollution (frequently.

Plastics

Guidance document helps understand regulations for Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERNs) for plastics

Envirotec Magazine

JANUARY 21, 2022

Baled plastic bottles (image credit: Burke Museum , CC BY-NC 2.0 The Recycling Association has produced guidance on the issuance of Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERNs) for plastics. The document has been circulated to Members of The Recycling Association. Significant numbers of PERNs were cancelled as a result.

Plastics

Plastics Packaging Recycling Recycling

Joint venture aims to create Norway’s first dedicated sorting plant to enable plastic packaging circularity

Envirotec Magazine

JUNE 6, 2023

Technology and recycling equipment firm TOMRA has signed a majority ownership agreement with Plastretur, the Norwegian Producer Responsibility Organisation for recycling plastic packaging. The companies will pair up to create a plastic packaging sorting plant located in Norway. Amland, SVP TOMRA Feedstock.

Packaging

Plastic pollution is growing relentlessly as waste management and recycling fall short, says OECD

Envirotec Magazine

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

The world is producing twice as much plastic waste as two decades ago, with the bulk of it ending up in landfill, incinerated or leaking into the environment, and only 9% successfully recycled, according to a new OECD report. Almost half of all plastic waste is generated in OECD countries, according to the Outlook.

Plastics

Plastics Waste Waste Recycling

Recycling charity expands laboratory analysis and other capabilities

Envirotec Magazine

MARCH 7, 2023

Plastics resource efficiency and recycling charity RECOUP is expanding its service provision by introducing a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA ) service and its own state-of-the-art laboratory to support its recognised RecyClass certification service and facilities.

Recycling

Recycling Recycling Microplastics Packaging

Commercial-scale facility will recycle all forms of plastic waste

Envirotec Magazine

MARCH 26, 2021

· New HydroPRS process creates raw ingredients for “infinitely recyclable new products” · World-first commercial-scale plant starts construction in Teesside, UK, backed by global partners and UK Government. tonnes of plastic packaging – the second highest per capita in the world.[iv] iii] The UK alone produces 2.4m

Plastics

Plastics Recycling Recycling Waste

Are businesses ready for the plastic packaging tax?

Envirotec Magazine

AUGUST 18, 2021

With less than a year to go until the Plastic Packaging Tax is introduced in the UK, a study by Veolia appears to show that 83% of businesses asked were NOT aware of the tax. The Plastic Packaging Tax is Government policy aiming to directly increase plastic recycling in the UK and cut carbon emissions.

Packaging