Are You Prepared For The UK Plastic Packaging Tax?
We bet that the above-pictured bottle has ventured further than us over the past year. This, among other reasons, has encouraged the UK government to enforce a plastic tax, which will take effect from April 2022.
The Facts:
- It is estimated that two million tonnes of plastic packaging is used each year.
- The UK is in the top five processors of plastic in Europe.
- A study in 2017 found that plastic packaging made up 44% of the UK’s plastic use.
- An overwhelming majority of the plastic used for packaging is ‘virgin’ plastic rather than recycled. As such we are reaching a crisis point with human impact on our environment it is more important than ever to make moves to a more circular economy. Recycled plastic has a carbon footprint up to four times lower than its virgin counterpart.
Sustainable Pioneers Leading The Way
Many manufacturers are already making considerable use of recycled plastic. For instance, each pair of Nike Flyknit shoes is made from the equivalent of six recycled bottles, and Magnum has announced a new range of ice cream tubs consisting of recycled plastic, which is estimated to result in the use of 160,000kg of certified recycled material across Europe by the end of 2020.
Other companies are recovering plastic from the ocean to use in their products, such as clothing company Patagonia, which has been experimenting with discarded fishing nets. Some have even gone so far as to create products made from 100% recycled plastic, such as Bureo’s Jenga Ocean game, each set of which is made from over 25 square feet of recycled fishing net.
Is there anything I can do to reduce the impact this tax will have on my business?
There are a few simple things that can be done to reduce the impact the new tax is likely to have on businesses across the nation which includes:
- Evaluating plastic packaging consumption within your business to find the problem areas.
- Reduce costs by identifying reusable resources
- Be economic with box sizes & use of gum tape if alternatives aren't possible
- Protect goods with recycled paper or shredded cardboard instead of plastic chippings
- Look at existing product alternatives which are more environmentally friendly
- Reinvest any savings made into new and innovative packaging solutions.
- Explore eco-friendly packaging schemes which may offer a complete solution.
Alternative products which may be of interest include using our biodegradable packing chips instead of regular packing peanuts, cardboard void fillers such as corrugated cardboard or tissue paper, as well as kraft paper tapes instead of polypropylene or vinyl tapes. Explore our website for more eco-friendly products or contact us today.
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We are working alongside businesses in East Sussex to become more sustainable so please do not hesitate to contact us for information on how we can help you either via email at sales@fieldskill.co.uk or via telephone on 01323 500999.
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Are You Prepared For The UK Plastic Packaging Tax?
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