^{Date:              05 November 2008
Embargo:       None}

Defra Packaging Review

ESA attended Defra’s recent Packaging Strategic Review Workshop where the Government outlined its current thinking on the development of a new strategy for packaging and packaging waste in the UK. The cross-sector Packaging Recycling Action Group (PRAG) and the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) also reported.

The Government undertook to publish its new strategy in the January 2008 Cabinet Office Strategy Unit report “Food Matters”. The review was intended to be a strategic document setting out a clear direction and preparing packaging for a low carbon economy and carbon metrics would be assessed as a potential indicator of sustainability for packaging..

The Government was likely to continue the emphasis on optimising the use of packaging, recycling more packaging and improving the quality of recyclables recovered from the waste stream, with added value shared equitably among all elements of the packaging recovery chain. It was unclear whether any changes were to be made to the PRN or PERN system.

Julian Walker-Palin from ASDA reported that PRAG had been divided into three working groups. One addressed packaging design with the aim of aligning manufacturers’ and retailers’ strategies. A second was looking to increase consistency of local authorities’ collections. The third was focussing on financial issues relevant to funding collections and particularly the PRN and PERN system.

Mr Phil Conran of Biffa presented the work of the ACP’s “75% Taskforce”, which was investigating how the UK might exceed the EU Packaging Directive’s 2008 target of 60% recovery (which the UK was expected to meet) and estimating the cost of meeting a domestic recovery target of 75%.

Defra’s Packaging Strategy is due to be published before the end of 2008.

ENDS