Press release -
RECYCLING ROADMAP FOR FLEXIBLE PLASTICS LAUNCHES AT WESTMINSTER
‘The future of recycling flexible plastic packaging in the UK’ is a report and blueprint which details for the first time how flexible plastic packaging – such as food packaging, film and carrier bags – can be cost-effectively collected and recycled.
The report is the result of the three-year FlexCollect project which piloted different collection and processing methods for flexible plastic packaging across 10 local authorities and 160,000 households across England. Led by Ecosurety, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, RECOUP and WRAP and sponsored by the Flexible Plastic Fund (FPF) – a collaboration of large food and consumer goods manufacturers - it is the largest trial of its kind in the UK to date and collected over 400 tonnes of flexible plastics, equal to over 50 million bread bags.
Key findings from the trial revealed that collection of flexible plastic packaging was relatively straightforward if done with other local authority recycling activities. Householders in the trial were happy to add flexibles to brightly coloured bags (which could be easily spotted at material recovery facilities and collected without impacting their operations) and reported an 89% satisfaction rate with the new system.
Once collected and sorted, the flexible plastic was recycled into flexible plastic products such as plastic bags, or plastic timber products such as fences and benches.
However, while the pilot proved that collection, sorting and public participation is clearly achievable, the absence of UK-based recycling infrastructure will present a challenge in the future and the report calls for an acceleration in investment in UK-based reprocessing capacity and the development of robust end markets for recycled flexible plastic packaging.
Gareth Morton, FPF representative and Discovery Manager at Ecosurety commented:
“FlexCollect has shown that collecting flexible plastic packaging from people's homes is not only possible - it's popular, efficient, and scalable. This report is the result of years of hard work by our partners and marks a big step forward in how the UK can deal with flexible plastic. But this is only the beginning - the Flexible Plastic Fund is already preparing its next major project to help make recycling this material happen on a much bigger scale.”
Stuart Hayward-Higham, Chief Technical Development & Innovation Officer commented: “The FlexCollect report provides a clear roadmap for councils and the waste industry ahead of the mandatory nationwide rollout of flexible plastic recycling from 2027. It’s a powerful signal that the groundwork is ready, and it's time for the UK to invest in the infrastructure needed to recycle this material at a massive scale.
“This is a huge step forward in tackling one of recycling's toughest challenges and promises a future where a much broader range of plastics are recycled, helping us all live more sustainably.”
The FlexCollect project is funded by FPF members Mars UK, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, Abel & Cole, Eat Real, Ella’s Kitchen, Kiddylicious, Koninklijke Douwe Egberts, KP Snacks, Lotus Bakeries, McCain Foods, Natural Balance Foods, Ocado Retail, pladis, Proper Snacks, The Collective, and Vitaflo, as well as by Defra, UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge delivered by Innovate UK, Ecosurety, RECOUP, WRAP and Zero Waste Scotland. The project delivery team comprises Ecosurety, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, RECOUP and WRAP.
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About Mondelēz International:
Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion, Mondelēz International is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; and Sour Patch Kids candy. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Key facts from the report and FAQs can be downloaded here: https://ecosurety.egnyte.com/dl/qvcW69drVBqH
· A selection of images relating to the project can be downloaded here: https://ecosurety.egnyte.com/fl/4hf38BkfyD47
· A selection of images from the launch event can be found here: TBC · FPF partners logos: https://ecosurety.egnyte.com/f... · FPF logo: https://ecosurety.egnyte.com/d... For more information please contact press@ecosurety.com or call on 0333 4330 370
About the Flexible Plastic Fund
The Flexible Plastic Fund is a collaborative fund giving value to flexible plastic films, so they are properly recycled. Managed by market-leading producer responsibility compliance scheme Ecosurety, the Fund was established in May 2021 by five founding partners: Mars UK, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever. Partners of the Fund now include Abel & Cole, Ella’s Kitchen, Kiddylicious, Koninklijke Douwe Egberts, KP Snacks, Lotus Bakeries, McCain Foods, Natural Balance Foods, Ocado Retail, pladis, The Collective, and Vitaflo.
The Fund explores how to support the recycling of flexible plastic packaging in two ways: through kerbside pilots and via retail collections. Launched in 2022, the FPF FlexCollect project is a series of pilots collecting flexible plastic packaging from households via kerbside collections in nine local authorities. The project, which runs until 2025, will also investigate different recycling technologies. The retail project supports the recycling of flexible plastic packaging collected by supermarkets. There will be full visibility on the recycling journey of flexible plastics collected by participating retailers through to their recyclers. Find out more: www.flexibleplasticfund.org.uk... FPF FlexCollect
Launched in 2022, the FPF FlexCollect project was a series of pilots collecting flexible plastic packaging from households via kerbside collections in ten local authorities. A total of ten local authorities participated in the project: Cheltenham Borough Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Maldon District Council, Somerset Council, Bracknell Forest Council, Newcastle City Council, Reading Borough Council, North Herts Council and Warwick District Council.
The project has been voluntarily funded by the Flexible Plastic Fund (FPF) members, Defra, UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge delivered by Innovate UK, Ecosurety, RECOUP, WRAP and Zero Waste Scotland.
Find out more: https://flexibleplasticfund.or...
About SUEZ and recovery UK
SUEZ recycling and recovery UK employs over 6,000 people, operating across over 300 sites, and handles in excess of 10 million tonnes of waste materials every year – a significant proportion of the UK’s total waste. Through collection, treatment, recycling and logistics operations, it serves more than 30,000 business customers and millions of householders throughout the country. Please visit https://www.suez.co.uk to find out more.
About the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge
UKRI’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, aims to establish the UK as a leading innovator in smart and sustainable plastic packaging, driving cleaner growth across the supply chain, and delivering a significant reduction in plastic waste entering the environment by 2025. The Challenge brings together academia, the full plastic packaging value chain and other key stakeholders and supports the delivery of the 2025 UK Plastics Pact targets. More information can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/browse-our-areas-of-investment-and-support/smart-sustainable-plastic-packaging/
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. We work to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Our mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate. Find out more at https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk" target="_blank" class="redactor-autoparser-object">https://www.ukri.org/councils/...
About UK Research and Innovation
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, with a budget of around £8bn. It is composed of seven disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK and Research England. We operate across the whole country and work with our many partners in higher education, research organisations businesses, government, and charities. Our vision is for an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, enriching lives locally, nationally and internationally. Our mission is to convene, catalyse and invest in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good. Find out more at https://www.ukri.org
About Ecosurety
Ecosurety is a leading packaging EPR compliance scheme on a mission to rid the world of unnecessary packaging. Using data-driven insights, market-leading tools and multidisciplinary expertise, they help businesses to comply with packaging EPR and make sustainable packaging decisions.
B Corp since 2020, Ecosurety is guided by its purpose of accelerating change towards an environmentally and socially sustainable world. Find out more: www.ecosurety.com
