Biffa, a waste management firm, estimates that standardizing materials in the plastic packaging supply chain could result in the avoidance of almost one million tonnes of waste by 2029, as stated in their Journey to Circularity report.

Source: Sustainability-Beat

This report outlines interventions to be implemented at every stage of the supply chain in order to lessen waste and improve environmental sustainability.

According to Biffa, the greatest opportunity for intervention in the plastic packaging waste stream lies in standardizing materials, which could result in the effective recycling of up to 0.8 million tonnes of material that would otherwise be wasted.

Biffa has already been involved in efforts to standardize milk bottle caps, advocating for their widespread adoption as part of a group of sustainability-focused organizations.

Requirements for new infrastructure are necessary but hinge on when, and to what extent, changes in the supply chain are made. Efforts to make plastic packaging more circular could simplify (with standardisation, for example) or lessen the burden on existing waste management infrastructure.

Carla Brian, Head of Partnerships, Biffa

In the past, milk bottle caps were colored based on the type of milk they contained, but they have since been replaced with a clear alternative.

This change has contributed to a reduction in color contamination in the HDPE waste stream, enabling bottles and caps to be recycled together and transformed into new, food-grade plastic products in a circular economy.

The value of circularity is not fully recognised, so education is needed for businesses and consumers. Programmes highlighting environmental, financial and societal benefits of circularity could lead to behavioural change, while reactionary businesses will make change more rapidly with consumer desire for circular products and services.

Carla Brian, Head of Partnerships, Biffa

Biffa asserts that the government also has a role to play in implementing extensions of existing legislation to support these interventions.

The Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), a current scheme that over half of UK businesses say will impact them, according to a Censuswide survey commissioned by Biffa, could result in an additional increase in the recycled content of plastic packaging by up to 0.3 million tonnes.

Investment in areas outside of infrastructure (though the two are closely linked). For example, in research, development and demonstration will help identify and test circular best practice. Such investments will assist in the transition to more circular ways of working.

Carla Brian, Head of Partnerships, Biffa

Recently, Biffa initiated legal action against the Scottish government over a £200m financial loss allegedly incurred due to the delayed implementation of a bottle deposit return scheme (DRS).