It's somewhat ironic that as I prepare to leave journalism, the hottest topic of the moment is the one that I was covering at the start of my career. Way back in 1990, when I was a cub reporter on Packaging Week, waste was the issue that was topping everybody's agenda.
There was lots of huffing and puffing among politicians; plenty of great industry initiatives (such as PET bottles with recycled content); and some incredibly daft stuff going on, notably in Germany.
Then everything sort of went quiet. Until now. Once again we see politicians and the like demanding that 'something is done'; industry responding with some great initiatives (such as PET bottles with recycled content); and some incredibly daft stuff still going on, although not just in Germany.
But this time round things are different. The issue - specifically how we reduce or manage waste - will not fade away as it did in the 1990s. So retailers and suppliers would be well advised not to fall into the trap of paying mere lipservice to this debate.
There was lots of huffing and puffing among politicians; plenty of great industry initiatives (such as PET bottles with recycled content); and some incredibly daft stuff going on, notably in Germany.
Then everything sort of went quiet. Until now. Once again we see politicians and the like demanding that 'something is done'; industry responding with some great initiatives (such as PET bottles with recycled content); and some incredibly daft stuff still going on, although not just in Germany.
But this time round things are different. The issue - specifically how we reduce or manage waste - will not fade away as it did in the 1990s. So retailers and suppliers would be well advised not to fall into the trap of paying mere lipservice to this debate.
No comments yet