Tesco’s packaging boss is to head up a new drive to launch “interoperable” reusable packaging across food retailers for large swathes of products in the UK.
The move comes as the industry’s new UK Packaging Pact, which launched in April, today revealed a raft of industry executives who will head up a series of major new initiatives in a drive to eliminate single-use plastic.
James Bull, head of packaging and waste strategies at Tesco, will chair the ‘scale reuse and refill’ arm of a series of industry expert groups unveiled by Wrap, which is overseeing the work of the new pact.
His group will seek to “drive interoperable systems to increase the proportion of packaging that is reusable compared to single-use”, it said.
Bull said: “Reuse is a key element in delivering a shift to a more circular economy, but we know that achieving meaningful progress can only be realised through industry collaboration. That’s why the UK Packaging Pact reuse industry expert group is an important next step, bringing together the best in the industry to focus on delivering scalable reuse solutions that work for businesses and consumers alike.
“I am delighted to be chairing this expert group as we start to lay the foundations for implementing a reusable packaging model and begin the transition to circularity.”
Jamie Riley, head of sustainability at Robinson Packaging, will chair the ‘optimising packaging’ group dedicated to reducing single-use packaging, removing problematic packaging and promoting more recyclable packaging. It will also encourage right-weighting, reduce virgin fossil-fuel derived materials and increase recycled content.
Riley said: “Effective packaging optimisation is about more than simply using less material. It is about ensuring packaging delivers the performance consumers need while minimising environmental impact. As chair of the packaging optimisation industry expert group, I am delighted to work with experts from across the value chain to identify priority actions and support the delivery of practical solutions in areas including unnecessary packaging reduction, design for recycling, recycled content inclusion, removal of problematic materials, bio-based material solutions and emerging recycling technologies.
“By bringing together expertise from across all packaging materials and formats, we can help accelerate the transition towards a more circular and resource-efficient packaging system.”
Stuart Hayward-Higham, chief technical development and innovation officer at Suez Recycling & Recovery UK, will oversee the groups in support of circular infrastructure investment that will seek to build a reliable evidence base to accelerate and unlock new investment for key materials.
Clare Edgar, head of packaging at M&S, chairs the group looking to harmonise data, while Brian Lodge, director of packaging at the British Plastics Federation, will lead the films and flexibles group.
Pushing forward with packaging changes
The industry expert groups will hold meetings in the coming months to agree work plans to set out roadmaps for each of the pact’s goals.
“Theirs will be a key role in keeping the Packaging Pact moving forward at pace, and ensuring that action plans and work programmes compliment external initiatives, and meet the needs of industry,” said Helen Bird, head of packaging at Wrap.
“I can think of few people better placed to fill these crucial roles and look forward to working with them all.”
Meanwhile Diageo, L’Oréal UK & Ireland and Pilgrim’s Europe are the latest big companies to join the UK Packaging Pact, with membership now reaching 90% of the UK’s grocery retail market.
The pact has promised a large-scale model for food companies to routinely collect and reuse household packaging, including harmful plastic, will be rolled out within 12 months of the April launch.
The pact succeeds the UK Plastics Pact, which launched in 2018, and aims to revolutionise the way consumers interact with packaging.
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