Product category:
Packaging exhibitions, conferences and seminars
News Release from: WRAP
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 February 2007
WRAP plastics conference spurs industry
action
Leading food and packaging industry figures met this week to discuss the potential impact of using recycled PET (rPET) plastic in food packaging at a conference organised by WRAP.
More than 200 representatives from the whole supply chain came together for the first time to hear about the latest technological and supply developments and to discuss the increasing opportunities for the closed loop recycling of rPET back into new packaging Talking at the event, WRAP chief executive Jennie Price said: "Consumers are more switched on to recycling than ever before, and are also increasingly concerned about the amount of plastic packaging waste that ends up in their bins
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 25 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Recycled content in packaging is one way in which the retail sector can demonstrate that it takes these concerns seriously.
"By bringing together those with the power to make changes throughout the supply chain, we will engender a greater degree of shared understanding and greater clarity on both the business and environmental benefits of using rPET in new packaging." The audience - including plastics reprocessors, material suppliers, fillers, brand owners and retailers - heard from major industry players with experience of using rPET in food packaging both in the UK and abroad.
Chaired by British Plastics Federation director general Peter Davis, the event included presentations from WRAP, The Coca Cola Company, Marks and Spencer, Recoup, the Food Standards Agency and Nextek and covered topics such as industry trials, lifecycle analysis, supply issues, consumer perceptions, legislation and packaging design.
Further reading
Conference Puts Case For Recycling PET In Packs
The business case for using recycled PET plastic in packaging will be demonstrated at a WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) conference to be held on February 6, 2007.
Funds For Cutting Domestic Food Waste Available
Funding is being made available by WRAP, the UK Waste and Resources Action Programme, to help reduce the six million tonnes of household food that is thrown away by consumers each year.
Current UK demand for food grade rPET for use in packaging stands at around 60,000 tonnes per year but supply is only about 12,000 tonnes.
Increasing supply is the next challenge for the sector, and the balance is beginning to shift.
For example, several new reprocessing plants are likely to come online within the next 18 months.
WRAP's Peter Skelton said: "The availability of recycled PET in the UK is expected to increase rapidly over the next two years, unlocking new opportunities for the industry.
"PET remains one of the most common packaging materials for food and drink and, by using recycled content, the industry can gain commercial advantages without compromising quality." The UK currently collects and recycles approximately 100,000 tonnes of plastic bottles from households - around 45,000 tonnes of which is PET.
Approximately 50 per cent of all homes now have plastic bottle collections at the kerbside.
Concluding the event, Peter Davis said: "This event has created a new forum between different parts of the packaging supply chain.
"It has brought us all bang up to date on the potential for the use of rPET in food packaging - and provided us with the forum for a candid discussion about the challenges ahead.".
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