Does the UK need a Circular Packaging Plan?

Encourage Collaboration Industry pulling together, sharing expertise and experience is crucial to the UK’s successful transition to a circular economy. The government undoubtedly realises this and must be applauded for taking businesses with them on the many journeys to creating new policies and initiatives. There were extensive PPT consultations with industry and the recent public launch of PackUK announced intentions for three working groups, including: The Recyclability Assessment Methodology Group, Efficiency and Effectiveness Group, and Communication and Behaviour Change Group. Such groups create valuable opportunities for businesses to pitch ideas and to share insight that helps to shape reforms and suggest practice measures that will positively impact packaging sustainability and recycling. If businesses aren’t clear about the end results of their input, there’s every possibility they’ll lose the impetus to get involved. Producing a national publicly available circular packaging plan could help avoid this. It could clearly show how these working groups and collaborations are benefitting industry ad those professionals taking the time to participate. A plan that details how investments will be made to address challenges and create new opportunities is more likely to encourage collaboration. A Recycling Roadmap has been produced by The British Plastics Federation and RECOUP, and pinpoints three key changes required to improve UK recycling. These changes, in part, look at the importance of improving communications and investing PPT funds in recycling infrastructure. A government-led circular packaging plan could be a positive step towards achieving these changes and creating confidence among businesses about how pEPR funds will be reinvested in improving packaging recycling. For businesses navigating shifting policies, increasing compliance costs and rising consumer expectations, clarity matters. As a UK packaging manufacturer, Duo understands the reality, we work with brands who are adapting using higher levels of recycled content and closing the loop on their packaging waste. A circular packaging plan could be the blue print the industry needs a signal that those contributing are not just paying into a black hole but driving measurable success. At Duo, we believe in packaging that’s part of the solution and we’re helping our customers design their packaging with the future in mind. For support with recyclable packaging design, recycled content solutions, or closed loop thinking in your supply chain, contact out team at enquiries@duo-uk.co.uk

The packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) gather pace. The scheme’s administrator, PackUK was publicly launched at the Packaging Innovations and Empack trade show in February and we’re edging closer to final pEPR fees, which are expected in July.

Businesses will be incentivised to reduce unnecessary packaging and use more recycled and recyclable packaging. This will be facilitated by the payment of pEPR fees, with estimates this will stimulate a £10billion investment in recycling services and infrastructure across the UK over the next 10 years.

With so much happening and big investment promises, we believe there’s strong case for a circular packaging plan.

Build confidence, stop scepticism

If businesses are going to fund £10billion of investment via pEPR payments, they deserve clarity about how and when this money will be spent. Many of the affected organisations will already be paying the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and can be forgiven from scratching their heads about how this tax revenue has been spent.

According to HMRC data from August 2024, the PPT generated £553million in revenues during its first and second years. There’s been no clarity about how this tax income has been used. Has it been invested in supporting government efforts to increase levels of recycling and the collection of plastic waste? Perhaps it has helped fund the development of the pEPR and other schemes such as Simpler Recycling?

There are greater packaging and recycling obligations being placed on businesses, which are being embraced. However, there’s a real risk of scepticism about the true motivations of financial stimuli like the PPT and pEPR, if it’s not clear about how taxes and fees are being used.

A circular packaging plan could clearly outline how £10billion will be invested in developing UK recycling during the next decade. The investment is much needed and is something that the industry is crying out for. Transparency about what will be spend and where, would help build confidence among PPT and pEPR payers.

ACAI Outdoorwear Branded mailing bags manufactured by Duo UK with ACAI's products positioned coming out of the branded mailing bag.

Encourage Collaboration

Industry pulling together, sharing expertise and experience is crucial to the UK’s successful transition to a circular economy. The government undoubtedly realises this and must be applauded for taking businesses with them on the many journeys to creating new policies and initiatives.

There were extensive PPT consultations with industry and the recent public launch of PackUK announced intentions for three working groups, including: The Recyclability Assessment Methodology Group, Efficiency and Effectiveness Group, and Communication and Behaviour Change Group. Such groups create valuable opportunities for businesses to pitch ideas and to share insight that helps to shape reforms and suggest practice measures that will positively impact packaging sustainability and recycling.

If businesses aren’t clear about the end results of their input, there’s every possibility they’ll lose the impetus to get involved. Producing a national publicly available circular packaging plan could help avoid this. It could clearly show how these working groups and collaborations are benefitting industry ad those professionals taking the time to participate. A plan that details how investments will be made to address challenges and create new opportunities is more likely to encourage collaboration.

A Recycling Roadmap has been produced by The British Plastics Federation and RECOUP, and pinpoints three key changes required to improve UK recycling. These changes, in part, look at the importance of improving communications and investing PPT funds in recycling infrastructure. A government-led circular packaging plan could be a positive step towards achieving these changes and creating confidence among businesses about how pEPR funds will be reinvested in improving packaging recycling.

For businesses navigating shifting policies, increasing compliance costs and rising consumer expectations, clarity matters. As a UK packaging manufacturer, Duo understands the reality, we work with brands who are adapting using higher levels of recycled content and closing the loop on their packaging waste.

A circular packaging plan could be the blue print the industry needs a signal that those contributing are not just paying into a black hole but driving measurable success. At Duo, we believe in packaging that’s part of the solution and we’re helping our customers design their packaging with the future in mind.

For support with recyclable packaging design, recycled content solutions, or closed loop thinking in your supply chain, contact out team at enquiries@duo-uk.co.uk