UK’s prime minister calls for plastic bag charge in all UK shops, plastic-free supermarket aisles, tax on single-use plastic items, funding for plastics innovation and aid for developing nations
January 10, 2018
A single polymer for food packaging?
UK retailer Marks and Spencer considers using only one polymer group for plastic food packaging to improve recyclability; PET and PEF possible options
January 9, 2018
Public consultation on marine litter and single-use plastics
EU Commission seeks feedback regarding actions on single-use plastics to reduce marine litter; consultation open until February 12, 2018
January 8, 2018
UK environment committee calls for bottle deposit system
Environmental Audit Committee of UK parliament demands nation-wide plastic bottle deposit return scheme, more access to free drinking water, increased packaging producer responsibility, and 50% recycled content in plastic bottles
December 21, 2017
EFSA working group on recycling plastics: 20th meeting
Updated meeting minutes of EFSA’s CEF Panel working group on recycling plastics now available online
December 19, 2017
PET collection and recycling growing in Europe
Nearly 60% of PET bottles on European market collected for recycling in 2016, according to Petcore Europe report; detailed survey results to be discussed at 2018 Petcore Europe conference
December 11, 2017
Discussing FCM regulation in the EU
Speakers at 2017 Smithers Pira “Plastics & Paper” conference summarize recent developments in EU FCM regulation landscape, discuss EU Commission’s proposal for printed FCMs
November 27, 2017
EU plastics industry commits to circular economy
European plastic industry associations support re-use and recycling goals of EU Commission’s Circular Economy Package, call for separate collection of packaging waste
November 27, 2017
UK may tax single-use plastics
UK government considers taxing disposable plastic items such as coffee cups and takeaway food containers to reduce plastic waste and pollution; call for evidence to be launched in 2018
November 22, 2017
Conference: Sustainability in packaging
Smithers Pira held “Sustainability in Packaging Europe” event on October 24-26, 2017 in Barcelona; speakers addressed plastic and packaging waste, packaging design, food waste, packaging machinery, and food brands’ activities
