Kinga Comblik

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued the following announcement regarding the recyclability labelling mandated by the UK Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations: “We want to provide you with an update on the legislation for the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging reforms. This legislation is on track to come into force in January 2025 as planned.  In the process of finalising this legislation we have taken a decision relating to the proposed provisions on labelling.  We have removed the provisions from the Statutory Instrument that relate to the introduction of mandatory labelling. However, this is a temporary position. The UK Governments (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) remain committed to a mandatory labelling regime to make it easier for consumers to understand how to recycle packaging correctly, and ultimately for the scheme to deliver its environmental outcomes.  We will include mandatory labelling across the UK - likely via an amendment to our forthcoming legislation in 2025 - and our approach is likely to be consistent across all nations of the UK. In preparing these provisions, we will review the forthcoming EU packaging legislation (EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) and explore the potential for consistency across our approaches. We will seek to minimise the costs and complexity of the arrangements for those businesses trading across all these markets, while protecting our commitment to the importance of labelling as part of the overall objectives of these reforms.  In parallel, we will continue to pursue work to ensure citizens across the UK understand how to recycle their waste to best effect. Clarity and communication to citizens is a key part of delivering the Collection & Packaging Reforms overall.”

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📢  Big news for the UK! The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published illustrative base fees* for 2025/26 across eight packaging categories as part of the ongoing implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. 🔄 The differences in material fee rates result from how disposal costs are offset, leading to varying fee structures. For example, #glass fees are mostly driven by recycling costs due to high recycling rates, whereas aluminium fees will primarily reflect residual waste disposal costs because of the low recycling rates for aluminium foil and non-beverage containers. 💡 This is crucial information for companies, as these fees directly impact their financial and environmental obligations towards packaging waste management and compliance with the new EPR regulations. ♻ The fees paid by producers after submitting their #packaging data help to transfer payments to local authorities and service providers to cover the costs of waste management services including #recycling efforts. *These preliminary fees are DEFRA's initial estimate, they are not the final fees. The government intends to publish the next set of illustrative base fees in September 2024, after additional data has been reported and reviewed. At Greenstreets Environmental Resources Ltd, we're more than just consultants, we are on a mission to provide actionable advice based on data insights to support our customers' journeys in EPR compliance and further strategies towards #sustainability and #circularity More information: https://lnkd.in/dSRm_3Ud #wastemanagement #DRS #productstewardship #circulareconomy #EPR #sustainability #UK #compliance

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Following on from our poll this morning, asking the question "To what extent does the sustainability of your flexible packaging influence your decision when making a purchase", here is what consumers say about sustainability according to NielsonIQ https://lnkd.in/ebkdkVrY #sustainability #packaging #consumers

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University of Nottingham is collaborating with Unilever and Bridge Farm Group to investigate the use of unwanted flowers to make fragrances for some of Unilever’s brands products. As part of Unilever’s pilot, Bridge Farm Group will supply flowers such as petunias, roses and marigolds that would otherwise go to waste. Engineers at the University of Nottingham will extract essential oils from the flowers using an energy-efficient method involving ultrasonication, making the extraction process 40% quicker than the traditional extraction method.  Parimala Shivaprasad, Asst Prof at University of Nottingham shared, “At the labs in Nottingham, we’re developing energy-efficient extraction methods and enzyme-based modifications, while also evaluating the practicality and cost-effectiveness of using plant waste as a raw material. This project showcases the potential of cutting-edge science and technology processes to create sustainable solutions for the future." Read the full story covered by The Independent: https://lnkd.in/ebTkHeAB  If you would like to learn more about the research at University of Nottingham Faculty of Engineering, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/ejSKZj9 #Sustainability #Biotech #SustainableFragrances #CircularEconomy   #RevelInTheReal

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