Ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds begins in England

1 October | regulation

The UK Government has announced the start of a ban on plastic straws, stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in England. 


The ban makes it illegal for businesses to sell or supply the items. The move is part of the government’s efforts to prevent plastic waste from polluting the ocean and environment.


It will also help the country’s ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste under the 25 Year Environment Plan.


England is estimated to use 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers, and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds every year.


In August, the government decided to increase the charge of single-use plastic bags to 10p from April next year and extended it to all retailers.


Additionally, the government is committed to launching a £500m Blue Planet Fund to protect the ocean from pollution, rising temperatures and overfishing.


Every year in England we use 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds.

20 October | report

Smurfit Kappa research finds increased demand for Bag-in-Box wines


A research conducted by corrugated packaging company Smurfit Kappa has revealed an increase in consumer demand for Bag-in-Box wines in the current year.


The survey was conducted in partnership with Wine Intelligence and analysed the behaviour of monthly wine drinkers in France and the UK.


During the last six months, Bag-in-Box wine drew attention from 3.7 million new consumers in the two countries.


The increase in demand for Bag-in-Box wines is partly due to the change in consumer behaviour caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.


According to the survey, the Bag-in-Box wine consumer market stands at around 12 million and four million consumers in France and the UK respectively.


Additionally, it was observed that four in ten potential Bag-in-Box wine buyers were under 35 years of age. This buyer group also expressed interest in the product's smaller formats.


The research also revealed 3l Bag-in-Box wine products to be the “most favoured” option. Smurfit Kappa is one of the European leading providers for Bag-in-box solutions.


20 October | plastic

Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I removes all plastic rings 


AB InBev’s Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I has enhanced its sustainability commitment by making its beers portfolio plastic-ring free. 


The brewer initially announced the goal in September last year and invested £6.3m into the packaging infrastructure at its breweries in South Wales and Lancashire, UK. 


Budweiser upgraded three canning lines on these sites, which together produce more than 4,000 cans per minute.  


The sites are now capable of producing plastic ring alternatives including fully recyclable wraps and a new technology known as tKeel Clip, which uses recyclable paperboard to create a lighter weight pack. 


With this initiative, the group has removed 250 tonnes of plastic annually throughout its full canned beer range, including Budweiser, Bud Light and Stella Artois.


In addition to the reduction of plastic shrink wrap, the group has removed 850 tonnes of plastic waste. 


The move is in line with the company’s goals to make 100% of its products in packaging that is returnable from majority recycled content by 2025.

19 October | recycling

Biffa joins the Poseidon Project to recycle harder PET grades


UK sustainable waste management company Biffa has joined the Poseidon Project initiative to recycle harder grades of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material.


The cross-industry initiative aims to show the use of chemical recycling on non-recyclable plastic. Poseidon Plastics, Dupont Teijin Films, Alpek, GRN and O’Neills are the other members involved in the project.


Recently, the project secured £3.4m of funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is set to start early in 2021. As part of this project, Biffa will supply feedstock to Poseidon’s 15,000t demonstrator plant.


Earlier this year, the company unveiled the first stage of its £27.5m rPET recycling facility in Seaham. This plant can process the equivalent of 1.3bn plastic bottles each year.


Biffa also joined the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) scheme to support its goal for a circular economy in the UK.


The Poseidon Project aims to create a process to chemically recycle harder grades of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material.

19 October | deals

Recycling Technologies, Neste and Unilever establish partnership


Plastic recycling technology provider Recycling Technologies, renewable diesel and circular chemical solutions provider Neste, and consumer goods manufacturer Unilever have established a partnership to integrate their expertise in chemical recycling.


The chemical recycling partnership will focus on recovering and reusing waste plastic packaging including films, sachets and pouches and recycling them to make new sustainable plastics.


The project is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund as part of its £20m investment in four advanced recycling plants.


During the three-year project, Recycling Technologies will process waste plastic packaging using its recycling machinery to transform it into oil called Plaxx.


Neste will analyse and test the material’s quality and suitability to upgrade it into high-quality drop-in feedstock, which will be used in manufacturing new, virgin-quality plastics. Unilever will contribute expertise on design for recycling for packaging.

15 October | plastic

Amcor supports call for a global treaty on plastic pollution 


UK-based packaging company Amcor has announced its support to a new call for a global treaty on plastic pollution.


Amcor has joined the initiative following a report titled ‘The business case for a UN treaty on plastic pollution’. It is a collaboration between Boston Consulting Group, World Wildlife Foundation and Ellen MacArthur Foundation.


According to the report, the coordinated global response in the form of a UN Treaty will help governments and businesses create a level playing field across the plastic value chain.


It will encourage organisations to set goals, accelerate commitments made and progress towards waste management.


Currently, more than 11 million metric tonnes of plastic are entering into the ocean on an annual basis.


The report states that the global volume of plastic flowing the ocean is projected to increase by three folds over the next two decades. Amcor has already committed to make all its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

In brief

Fabri-Kal launches Recycleware Containers to expand sustainability

Food packaging solutions provider Fabri-Kal has expanded its sustainable product offerings with the launch of its new Recycleware Containers. Manufactured in the US, the products contain a minimum of 20-50% post-consumer recycled PET material and are recyclable.

Burger King and TerraCycle’s Loop to pilot new reusable packaging 

Fast-food chain Burger King has partnered with TerraCycle’s circular packaging service, Loop, to pilot new reusable packaging. The partnership is part of the brand’s Restaurant Brands for Good framework to help reduce packaging waste.

Stora Enso launches take-away bowls for food service packaging 

Pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso has partnered with wholesale company Tingstad to market its new food service take-away bowls, PureFiber. The packaging is designed to replace plastic on-the-go food packaging. It is free from plastic and PFAS.

H&M presents new Looop garment-to-garment recycling system  

Swedish clothing-retail company H&M is introducing a garment-to-garment recycling system that helps transform old textiles into new ones. Known as Looop, the container-sized machine promotes circularity in fashion and keeps unwanted garments from turning into waste.

15 October | Recycling

Origins, ELC, SABIC and Albéa partner for recycled tube package


Global skincare brand Origins and The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) have entered a sustainable packaging partnership with chemical company SABIC and beauty packaging manufacturer Albéa.


The collaboration is intended to develop an advanced recycled tube package.


SABIC’s certified circular polyethylene and polypropylene advanced recycling technology will be used for producing the tube.


The tube will contain a circular polymer resin. Origins will use the tube for its Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask.


The post-consumer mixed plastics material made from recycled tubes will be available in market next year.


Under this partnership, Albéa will offer its expertise to use recycled resins to develop a high-performing tube.


The partnership is in line with ELC’s sustainable packaging goals, to increase the amount of post-consumer recycled (PCR) material in its packaging by up to 50% by 2025.


The company also pledged to make at least 80% of the brand’s packaging by weight to be recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable by 2023.

13 October | recycling

ALPLA unveils world’s first carbon-neutral recycled PET


Plastic packaging manufacturer and recycling specialist ALPLA has introduced the world’s first carbon-neutral recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET).


The production of carbon-neutral rPET has been achieved by using green electricity and offsetting unavoidable emissions with carbon certificates.


In order to produce this resin, the company’s PET Recycling Team plants in Wöllersdorf, Austria, and Radomsko, Poland, moved to a combination of electricity from renewable sources.


ALPLA is making the world’s first carbon-neutral rPET available to its customers to help meet their objectives and targets towards sustainability.


Last month, ALPLA expanded its recycling activities across the globe by building a plant in Mexico for recycling high-density polyethylene (HDPE).


Scheduled for launch in the second half of 2021, the facility is designed to produce 15,000t of post-consumer recycled material annually.

In brief

Fabri-Kal launches Recycleware Containers to expand sustainability

Food packaging solutions provider Fabri-Kal has expanded its sustainable product offerings with the launch of its new Recycleware Containers. Manufactured in the US, the products contain a minimum of 20-50% post-consumer recycled PET material and are recyclable.

Burger King and TerraCycle’s Loop to pilot new reusable packaging 

Fast-food chain Burger King has partnered with TerraCycle’s circular packaging service, Loop, to pilot new reusable packaging. The partnership is part of the brand’s Restaurant Brands for Good framework to help reduce packaging waste.

Stora Enso launches take-away bowls for food service packaging 

Pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso has partnered with wholesale company Tingstad to market its new food service take-away bowls, PureFiber. The packaging is designed to replace plastic on-the-go food packaging. It is free from plastic and PFAS.

H&M presents new Looop garment-to-garment recycling system

Swedish clothing-retail company H&M is introducing a garment-to-garment recycling system that helps transform old textiles into new ones. Known as Looop, the container-sized machine promotes circularity in fashion and keeps unwanted garments from turning into waste.