Northern Ireland retailers and manufacturers should focus on working with their supply chains in order to fully realise the opportunities presented by packaging minimisation, say sustainability experts Envirowise.
As Defra announces tougher business targets for packaging recovery and recycling rates until 20101, firms need to increasingly assess the risks and opportunities of compliance for them and their customers, according to Envirowise Regional Manager for Northern Ireland, Sam McCloskey.
"Under UK packaging regulations, any company handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year and with an annual turnover of more than £2 million is obliged to register their obligation with a packaging compliance scheme or directly with the Environment Agency," says Sam. "They must then provide evidence of their compliance with the annual recovery and recycling targets by purchasing Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) or Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERNs) through an accredited re-processor or approved compliance scheme2.
"However, these more stringent targets may increase the cost of compliance for many companies and while legislation is driving businesses to increasingly recognise their recycling commitments - many are still failing to seize new opportunities for resource efficiency along the way.
"We would like to see people increasingly working with their supply chains to investigate how cleaner design could help to minimise packaging volumes. For example, reducing the amount of raw material specified at design stage can help minimise carbon emissions generated by extraction and transportation, as well as reducing production costs. In some cases, the cost of compliance could be reduced or even offset by identifying new efficiencies."
Within UK industry, Envirowise expects to see an increasing emphasis on a more holistic view of product and packaging lifecycles in future. In fact, recently Defra announced plans to revise its overarching waste strategy by Spring 2008 to include product consumption3.Sam McCloskey comments: "This would challenge manufacturers to consider the disposal and re-use options for their products before they even leave the drawing board – and efforts to minimise packaging would be a natural extension of this."
While the commercial and environmental benefits of cleaner design should in themselves provide sufficient motivation for businesses to act, it is also worth noting that under Producer Responsibility regulations businesses that do not register or fail to comply could face fines totalling thousands of pounds4. By minimising packaging volumes businesses could reduce or even eliminate their compliance costs under this regulation.
"Crucially, companies that do invest in sustainable design typically identify more efficient, innovative techniques and products that are more cost effective or easier to make. For this reason, cleaner design could be described as a win-win situation for both industry and the environment and this latest announcement on packaging targets simply adds momentum to the cause," adds Sam.
More information on resource efficiency and cleaner design is available at the Envirowise cleaner design page or by calling the Envirowise Advice Line 0800 585 794.
- Ends -
- 'New packaging waste recycling targets will deliver greater carbon benefits' 11.02.08 (
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080211a.htm)
- Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/packaging/index.htm)
- http://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/770591/Government-waste-policy-focus-total-life-cycles
- http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/1613986
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/1903006
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/1692726
Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Trimedia. Media contacts: Peter Stilwell or Rod Dennis at Trimedia on 0117 929 2311.
Notes to Editors
About Envirowise
Envirowise is a Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice.
Since 1994 Envirowise has helped UK businesses save over £1bn by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental footprints.
Envirowise offers businesses of all sizes and sectors a wide range of free, independent and practical advice designed to genuinely improve their processes, profitability and competitiveness. Services include:
- The Environment and Energy Advice Line on 0800 585794
- An encyclopaedic website of valuable and relevant information
- On-site visits conducted by a nationwide team of expert advisors
- Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions