IOM3 celebrates progress made in UK Plastics Pact 2021 Annual Report
The UK plastics pact shows good signs of collaborative progress by cutting plastic packaging by 10% and doubling recycled content.
IOM3 first became a supporter of the UK Plastics Pact in 2019, which was set up to bring together businesses from across the entire plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs to tackle the scourge of plastic waste.
IOM3 CEO Colin Church CEnv FIMMM, says, ‘Tackling inappropriate uses of plastic and poor capture of the material for reuse and recycling is important. As a supporter of the UK Plastics Pact, IOM3 welcomes the progress made by the Pact and its members to address this issue. The report clearly sets out that there is more to be done, though, and we will continue to work with WRAP and others to address this. At the same time, the proper use of plastic has a significant role to play in supporting the essential transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient world, and professionals in materials, minerals and mining have a key role to play in finding the right balance.’
Comparing data for members that have reported each year, there has been a 10% drop in plastic packaging on supermarket shelves, with problematic and unnecessary plastic items falling by 46% since 2018. This 10% reduction equates to a CO2e reduction of 335,000t equivalent to taking 150,000 cars off the road since the Pact began.
The report also highlights several key developments during the past year. Innovations in recycling plastic bags and wrapping through increased front of store collections are beginning to offer the opportunity to scale up the collection and recycling of these challenging materials, crucial to hit the Pact’s recycling target.
Jude Allan MIMMM, Chair of Packaging Society, adds ‘The collaborative effort to work towards clear goals has been really impressive and great to be a part of, there is always more to be done but the momentum feels really positive.'
We would like to thanks IOM3 members who have contributed to the UK Plastics Pacts working groups over the past year.
To read the full report, visit bit.ly/3wWNxC8
