Plastics: A Vision for a Circular Economy
We are at a juncture in our history where society’s relationship with plastics is evolving. The plastics industry, government and wider society all want the same thing: to reduce plastic waste so we leave the environment in a better place for generations to come. As the experts on plastics, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) has publicly welcomed the government’s recent call for evidence surrounding single-use plastic items. This is an opportunity for the UK to develop more sustainable businesses, to enhance its infrastructure and establish and embed a culture that recycles used materials wherever possible.
The BPF's document, Plastics: A Vision for a Circular Economy, can be viewed below or downloaded at the bottom of this page. You can also read the executive summary on this page.
Adopting the principles of circularity laid out in the government’s UK Industrial Strategy could lead to a low carbon manufacturing revolution, creating jobs and wealth as we establish a world-leading circular economy. To help the government deliver upon its commitments, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) has two ambitious goals leading up to 2030 and hopes to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure they are met.
Zero plastic packaging to landfill
The UK plastics industry would like to see all plastic packaging and single-use items re-used, recycled and/or recovered by 2030. Leading brands and retailers have already committed to using only reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025, and the BPF is a signatory to WRAP’s UK Plastics Pact. We view this as the first milestone towards a more ambitious target of entirely eliminating plastic from landfill by 2030.
Minimising plastic entering the sea from the UK
The plastics industry supply chain, including brands and retailers, leading experts in waste management and recycling, and academics have already pledged to work collaboratively towards developing a comprehensive plan to significantly reduce plastic leaking into the wider environment from the UK by establishing a Marine Litter Platform (MLP).
They form a key part of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007, which covers the whole of the UK. The current PRN system should be extended to include plastic items that are not packaging products but are products used in conjunction with food and drink consumed ‘on the go’, such as cutlery or straws. Revisions to the current system need to support the development of the UK’s recycling infrastructure. Evidence suggests that collaborative work is also needed to deliver anti-littering, behaviour-change and educational campaigns to maximise recycling and stop plastic entering the marine environment from our shores.
What is the PRN System?
The Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) system was designed to help the UK achieve recycling targets set by the government. PRNs and Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERNs) are issued by recyclers and bought directly from them or via compliance schemes. Obligated brands, retailers and manufacturers buy these as part of their responsibilities as a producer.
The plastics industry would like to help deliver a streamlined recycling system, simplifying communication and eliminating confusion for the consumer. Evidence suggests that adopting consistent collection schemes throughout the UK (both kerbside and ‘on the go’), which means every council collecting the same materials for recycling, would be a major step forwards.
Further innovations in waste sorting as well as recycling technologies, such as chemical recycling, are necessary for the UK to remain a world leader in waste management.
As we develop and help implement best practice for waste management within the UK, the plastics industry, brands and retailers have already agreed to openly share best practice to help improve waste management systems in the developing world, which is where a large portion of the plastic entering the sea originates. Through the BPF’s Marine Litter Platform, the plastics industry has offered to use its comprehensive network across the globe to promote the establishment of similar platforms elsewhere.
Finally, the plastics industry will work with others to promote ecodesign amongst specifiers and users of plastic packaging so that products are more easily recyclable, and will work with stakeholders to ensure that the re-use and reduction of items and materials are promoted where appropriate, sustainable and safe.
