Roger Wright

As Glastonbury festival gets underway, our new research reveals that 70% of people who have bought a tent admit they have used it just once. According to estimates, about 250,000 tents made of polymer-based nylon or polyester are abandoned annually, leading to the creation of 'tent trash' fields and contributing to 900 tonnes of waste. To address this pressing issue, we have worked with EnviroTent, a company that designs cardboard tents, to create a 100% recyclable cardboard tent, which could be a game-changer in the fight against 'tent trash'. Find out more about the benefits of the cardboard EnviroTent here: https://ow.ly/gIl650Sr2GW

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The triple bottom line is something fashion should be fully embracing, not just with PR commitment or event sponsorship, but hard actions that will drive brand and industry success.

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Thought of the Day Nestlé’s move to outfit Quality Street with a paper tub is a small step in the right direction. But let's be clear: it barely scratches the surface of the waste we’re drowning in. Each year, in the run-up to Christmas, the aisles swell with plastic-laden tubs, their contents shrinking while the mountains of single-use packaging grow ever larger. It’s hard not to see the contradiction in a world that urges us to reduce waste, while marketing machines bombard us with the latest holiday ‘must-haves.’ Imagine instead a world where these producers take responsibility, offering a refill station where you purchase your tub once and refill it year after year, or, imagine, bring your own! A system where, instead of endless packaging, you choose your mix of sweets, pay by weight, and walk out with only what you need. This isn’t far-fetched. It’s exactly the kind of solution that would signal a genuine commitment to reducing waste, not just tweaking it around the edges. So why hasn’t this happened? Why haven’t we demanded it? The truth is, we’ve been conditioned to accept the endless churn of seasonal consumption. The clever marketing hooks us earlier each year, driving us to pile up products we don’t need, wrapped in packaging we can’t recycle. Our governments preach about overconsumption, but allow this needless waste to proliferate. It’s as if profits always outweigh the promises of sustainability. The real question is: what can we do? Can we resist the seductive lure of discounted tubs of sweets, products designed to entrap us in a cycle of waste? If marketing didn’t push us so hard, would we even miss them? Maybe, just maybe, the answer lies in shifting from mindless consumption to a model that fits the circular economy we keep hearing about. This isn’t about attacking one company or product, it’s about asking for an alternative that breaks the mould and puts people and planet first.

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Tomorrow, Katherine Fleet, Head of Sustainability & Circularity at RECOUP, is speaking at the British Plastics Federation Reusable Plastics Packaging Seminar! Will you be joining us? 📅 Date: 4 July 2024 📍 Location: Online 🔗 Register: https://lnkd.in/eBV9D4ps Key topics will include: 🗨️Reuse in Plastics - What is the Current Situation by Wayne Barron 🗨️Reusability by Design from Katherine Fleet 🗨️Reuse case study by Gavin Ellis 🗨️Implications for How Reuse Will Work in Europe from David Carroll #Sustainability #PlasticsIndustry #ReusablePackaging

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Today's the International Day of Climate Action—a reminder that the choices we make and the efforts we choose to pursue have a critical role in combatting today's climate crisis. At Sheringham, these actions underpin every decision we make, from responsible water practices and sustainable packaging to the direct sourcing of five major ingredients from small specialty producers. Your support helps us make it all happen—and together, we are making a difference for a greener future! Curious to learn more about our climate action initiatives? Comment your questions below and we'll answer them in an upcoming video! #MakeItASheringham #ClimateAction #InternationalDayofClimateAction

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♻️ Packaging Producer Responsibility ♻️ Back in March we shared information on the Scottish Governments consultation on Reforming the UK packaging producer responsibility system. Earlier this month (13 November 2024) the Scottish Govt published their final business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) for the reform of the packaging producer responsibility regulations. Read the full document here: 🔗https://lnkd.in/ejzVK5qi 🎯 The objectives of the system are to: 📉 Reduce the amount of packaging produced; 🚮 Reduce the amount of packaging waste going to landfill; and ♻️ Increase the amount of packaging waste that is recycled and recovered. 🤝 What can Albion do to help? We are an experienced provider of Compositional Waste Analysis services to Local Authorities and Commercial Waste Companies and can assist operators undertake Waste Sampling and we have also developed and delivered training courses which provide information and support to MRFs. 📲 Get in Touch For more information or an informal chat regarding your options 🔗 Visit our website: For detailed information about our services go to https://lnkd.in/eW5FU2-c 📞 Call us: Speak directly to of our experts by calling us on 01292 610428. 📧 Email us: Send your enquiries to [email protected] and we'll get back to you promptly. 🎙 Listen to our Podcast: A fortnightly podcast where we discuss the issues, challenges and opportunities currently affecting the waste management sector in the UK. For more information go to www.rubbishtalk.co.uk #PackagingResponsibility #WasteManagement #Recycle #EnvironmentalSustainability #CircularEconomy #ScottishGovernment #ProducerResponsibility #SustainablePackaging #WasteReduction #AlbionEnvironmental #WasteSampling #WasteIndustryUpdates

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Plastic packaging in the UK accounts for nearly 70% of our plastic waste, and we’re on a mission to end this.  🙅‍♀️   So, we’re really delighted to see the expansion of the Reposit | Returnable Packaging Platform | B Corp to new brands, including ARRAN Sense of Scotland bath, body and home fragrance products in returnable packaging whether you shop online or in their stores. 🤝   Why we're excited about this launch:    🌍 Accessible - We know that, to bring about real systems and behaviour change, we need to make it accessible for people to buy the products that they love in returnable packaging, whether shopping in person or online, and this expansion is helping do exactly that!   🌟 Reducing friction - People have the option to return their empty packaging in either one of the two ARRAN Naturals stores, or by freepost at their nearest post office, giving customers more choice and convenience.   🎁 Incentivising return - The "Return for Reward" programme, operated by Reposit, incentivises consumers to return their empty packaging after use, to receive a reward in the form of a discount while also helping the planet.   This is all part of our partnership supported by Innovate UK to demonstrate that returnable packaging can, and will, work at scale for the benefit of people and the planet.    Stay tuned for more news soon.   #ReturnablePackaging #ReuseRevolution #TheFutureIsReturnable #ReturnForReward #Reposit #Arran

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I've recently been involved in a number tenders here at Transcend Packaging Ltd. A common tread in all these tenders has been a real focus to ensure that the tendered items a certified as PFAS free. In previous roles, I hadn't really encountered the term PFAS. Therefore If like me, every day is a school day let me edumacate you on PFAS or as I now call them, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances! Which are a group of man-made chemicals used in various industrial applications and consumer products for their water and grease-resistant properties. However, these chemicals are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment and can accumulate over time. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to serious health issues, including cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, and developmental issues in children. With that in mind you can see why it's then important why food to go packaging that you will put on you lips, needs to be PFAS free as well as plastic free. The team here in Wales are committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety and sustainability for our foodservice packaging products. That's why we are proud to announce that ALL our items, including straws, cups, and cutlery, are 100% PFAS-free! 🥤🍴 Join us in our mission to create a safer, more sustainable future. Together, we can make a difference, one PFAS-free product at a time...And plastic free too! #PFASFree #SustainablePackaging #Foodservice #EcoFriendly #SafetyFirst #TranscendYourPackaging

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Myth Marple is back to dispel more of the most common packaging myths! This week, she's been investigating the term 'environmentally friendly' and whether it does actually mean that something is lower carbon and more sustainable. This is what she says... "The phrase 'environmentally friendly' is something that we hear all the time and it does essentially mean that something isn't harmful to the environment, like planting a tree for instance. But it's not a phrase that can be applied to packaging. Why? As I mentioned last week, packaging requires energy to transform it from a raw material to its final form. Describing it as 'environmentally friendly' is simply not true and is deemed to be “greenwash”. However, the phrase can be used to compare different packaging types by saying they are 'more' or 'less' environmentally friendly, depending on the relative amount of harm they do. The harm that a specific type of packaging does can be measured by their greenhouse gas emissions or by their sustainability. For example, pack A uses less of the same material than pack B, therefore pack A can be described as being more environmentally friendly than pack B." Thank you once Myth Marple for the interesting insight! We can't wait to see what you have in store for us next week. #environmentallyfriendly #packaging #myths

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Building on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme that is already in place, the UK Government has announced that EPR legislation specifically covering packaging should come into effect on 1st January 2025. What will this mean for businesses? ♻ Producers will be required to report the amount of packaging they place on the market between January and December this year. ♻ The data that is reported will be used to charge producers fees and pay Local Authorities for managing packaging waste for the period April 2025 - March 2026. ♻ Producers are required to submit this data by 31st May 2024 and may face penalties for not complying. Thanks to the introduction of modulated fees, producers will pay more for packaging that is either difficult or costly to recycle from 2026. This means that thinking about the recyclability of your packaging needs to be a priority now, to meet incoming compliance requirements, avoid extra costs and improve the circularity of the materials you're using. Let me know below if you'd like to discuss the updated packaging EPR legislation in more detail. #pEPR #ExtendedProducerResponsibility #RegenerateResources #EcologicalTransformation

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🤔 Will products imported into Europe need to comply with the PPWR? How will recyclability performance be graded? If you have questions on the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), it's likely that someone else is wondering the exact same thing. We answered a flood of great questions asked in our recent PPWR webinar. Read the Q&A article to get the insights. 👇 https://go.upm.com/3YgimS8 #UPMRaflatac #BeyondFossils #PPWR #Packaging

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Let's talk about sustainable paper consumption! ♻️ While recycling paper is important, its not the whole story! 📚 We also need virgin fibres from sustainably managed forests as paper cannot be recycled indefinitely. 🌿📄 Read more in this article by Two Sides UK to find out more. 👉https://ow.ly/UI6130sBI7U

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Interested in eComm packaging & PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) as well as how it's changing the packaging game? Are you curious in innovative solutions available at the moment? Claim the acess to on-demand webinar recording where you will deep dive into 3 things that you need to know if you're in the #ecomm industry. ❌ Packaging with below or equal to 70% recyclability will be banned. ❌ A max 50% of empty space ratio will be allowed for e-commerce packaging.. ❌ 40% of e-com packaging will have to be reusable by 2030. Link to on-demand recording: https://ow.ly/kBEk30sFqzE webinar_vio_image ... and by the way, please make sure not to miss our upcoming PPWR live webinar on 31st July: https://ow.ly/J8w930sFip8 #PPWR #innovation #sustainability #dssmith #webinar #eCommerce #growth #packaging

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Join me and an incredible line-up of speakers on November 20, online for Forge: Supplier Sustainability https://lnkd.in/eRm3WnFj, as we discuss the vital role procurement plays in Scope 3 emissions reductions and helping the company deliver on sustainability and ESG goals. Here are just some of the conversations taking place: Harnessing procurement’s influence to drive supplier sustainability throughout the business Regulatory responsibilities: how regulators and standards setters are focusing on strategic supply chain interventions Working with your suppliers on their sustainability journey Balancing supplier choice and risk reduction with cost reduction Leveraging technology for greater decision-making Training your sourcing team / stakeholders in supplier sustainability Click here to register your virtual seat: https://lnkd.in/eRm3WnFj

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🚨 The UK Parliament has officially signed the full extended producer responsibility regulations for packaging. They will need to sit for 40 days before being passed. A major step towards shifting waste management costs to producers, the regulations aim to encourage sustainable packaging and recycling, aligning with the UK's 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy. Industry stakeholders are expected to report on packaging volumes, and a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) is being formed to oversee implementation and ensure compliance. 🔗 The full text is available to view here: https://lnkd.in/eB5nF_Y6 #EPR #Packaging #UK #Producers

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DEFRA, is it wise to be collecting glass mingled with plastics & paper etc? glass is already collected separately in many areas and poses a particular risk when mixed with other materials. When it breaks it can cause serious injury? for the sake of avoiding one bin that is already used in most areas along with the glass recycling vehicles, is it worth it? #defra #recycling #environment #wastecollections

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❌ Brands missing #packaging #sustainability targets.... 🚩Red flag or an unavoidable consequence of ambitious targets? The latter according to Gartner. In 2021 it predicted that most organisations with 2025 sustainable packaging commitments would fail to meet their goals. The analysis was driven by evidence of companies’ reliance on #plastics and lack of #recycling and reuse infrastructure globally. Ambitious targets set by NGOs and brands should be applauded though right? Without them the industry stalls, investments diminish and progress tapers off. In hindsight, many of the pledges did not factor in the time or investments required to drive the scale required. I think it's key to highlight the stand-out issues they face: 📍For materials to be recyclable they need to be recycled at scale and in practice. This requires greater industry collaboration and government intervention 📍Supply chains and reverse logistics for reusable packaging are underdeveloped and will require investment to drive the scale required 📍Complex manufacturing and supply chains need to be modified or sometimes replaced resulting in the tens if not hundreds of millions in expense and capital writeoffs 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀❔ 🤝 In summary - Maintain course and speed! Keep up the good and challenging work. Collaboration is key (as is investment) Article in the comments by Packaging Europe for a comprehensive overview of current challenges and what #brandowners can do to overcome shortfalls in 2025... 🚨 Spoiler alert - we are busy (and passionate about) supporting FMCG brands to achieve their sustainable packaging goals. If you need to build R&D capability or require substrate expertise specific to #PPWR, please get in touch - I'd be happy to share insights! 📩 [email protected] Cc: PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive, Unilever, The Consumer Goods Forum, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, CEFLEX - A Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging, WRAP, Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) #keepcalmandcarryon #inthistogether #packagingnews #sustainablepackaging #greeneconomy #circulareconomy #reduce #reuse #recycle

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