The Food & Drink Federation and the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (Incpen) have been successful in their joint bid to manage the UK’s extended producer responsibility packaging recycling scheme.
The industry bid led by the FDF and Incpen is backed by more than 100 retailers, product manufacturers, packaging producers, NGOs and waste management organisations. It will take over the Producer Responsibility Organisation from 1 April.
The bid will see the creation of UK Packaging PRO, which is a not-for-profit body it says will “help shape a packaging system that works better for people, planet and producers by ensuring industry’s insights are reflected in the scheme”.
The move was confirmed today by the government’s EPR administrator PackUK while UK Packaging PRO was created and supported by organisations representing nearly half of the UK’s EPR fees.
It said it would “champion collaboration and innovation across the value chain, accelerating progress toward higher recycling rates, reduced waste and a more circular system”.
This will include improving recycling rates by supporting innovation and improvements in how packaging is made, used, collected and recycled. It will also look to ensure EPR fees and incentives align with real environmental progress while also supporting local authorities with data, insight and practical tools. Finally it stated it woulud lead industry’s efforts to improve and reduce packaging and support better recycling across all four nations of the UK.
UK Packaging PRO will be led by Karen Graley, who has played a key role in the application process. Graley has previously worked at both Waitrose and M&S. She was also a founding director of OPRL.
“We’re very proud to have been appointed to play such a vital role in the packaging EPR scheme,” she said.
“UK Packaging PRO was created to give producers a genuine seat at the table. With strong governance in place, a clear mobilisation plan, and broad support from across the sector, we are ready to get to work – in close partnership with PackUK, governments, local authorities and organisations across the value chain to deliver a packaging system that works better for everyone.”
Former Unilever UK & Ireland CEO Sebastian Munden has been appointed chair of the board for UK Packaging PRO. Munden said: “Many of us in the industry have been working for this moment for many years. Although it has been a long time to get here, this is only the very beginning of industry-led EPR in the UK. A cost-conscious, data-driven, innovation-minded approach will be good for citizens, local authorities and producers, with benefits in standards of living and to the economy. I am looking forward to a genuine partnership between government and business.”
FDF chief executive Karen Betts added: “I’m proud that FDF and Incpen have played the central role we have in ensuring the UK’s new EPR scheme has the right architecture and the right industry support to ensure it succeeds. EPR is a massive reform and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform food packaging and the UK’s recycling system for the better.
“I’m confident that UK Packaging PRO will be a strong part of the new system from the get-go, led by industry and working collaboratively with other stakeholders, who perform equally vital roles, to deliver better outcomes for the environment, businesses and consumers. It’s taken a great deal of hard work to get this far, and we’re excited now to take UK Packaging PRO to the next stage.”
Jeremy Blake, CEO, PackUK, said: “I’m delighted to welcome UK Packaging PRO as the new Producer Responsibility Organisation. This announcement follows a rigorous selection process, as PackUK was committed to choosing the best candidate possible to represent the diverse interests of the packaging industry.
“The appointment of the PRO will further enhance the scheme by unlocking the benefits that an industry-led organisation can bring. I have full confidence that we have found that in UK Packaging PRO and look forward to working together with the PRO to achieve the shared goals of packaging producers and local authorities alike: higher recycling rates, lower costs and improved efficiency.”
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