Moving forward from zero growth

29 July 2008

One of the things that causes people huge frustration is the amount of packaging that we all see every day - especially when we can't recycle all of it. 

I share this frustration, having had a bin full of unrecyclable packaging this weekend!

The retailers and brand owners know about this frustration and WRAP has been working with them over the last couple of years, through the Courtauld Commitment, to try to cut the growth in packaging and then to actually reduce the amount of packaging used by the sector each year.

Historically, the amount of packaging used for grocery products has grown every year - but I'm delighted to say that we have now managed to stop the growth. In 2007 the same amount of packaging was put onto the market by the major retailers and brands as they used in 2006. This is despite increased sales. As far as we are aware, this is the first time this has been achieved anywhere in Europe.

This is a fantastic achievement but what I really want to see is actual reductions - that is going to be even more challenging. Our next target under the commitment is to see real reductions by 2010.

If you're thinking that you haven't seen much evidence of this work to reduce packaging, it's possible that you're not aware of it. There are lots of examples of products now being packaged in lighter bottles or cans and things being wrapped in thinner films.  Much of this is very difficult to spot. However, there are other changes which we can see - for example:

  • the move to concentrates for washing liquids; or even
  • some new cleaning sprays which include a refill sachet.

As we move to some of the more visible changes, we as householders are also going to need to change the way we do things. Are we going to remember to use the refills or will we forget and just go and buy a new container? If we want to see real reductions in packaging then we are all going to need to engage and adapt. I hope we will - the gains are certainly going to be worth it.

The other area covered by the Courtauld Commitment is food waste - we need the retailers to help us all waste less of the food that we buy. We waste a staggering 6.7m tonnes of food waste every year. The retailers can help by giving us more advice on storage, working on portions sizes and giving us recipe ideas. I'll write more about our work on food waste in a future blog.

I want to ensure that WRAP continues to work closely with the retailers over the coming years to build on the progress already made so we can make an even greater difference - achieving real reductions in the quantity of packaging we use as a society and the amount of food we waste.

And I, for one, am looking forward to seeing far less packaging in my bin.

Posted in:
|Recycling |Packaging |Retailers |Commitment |Partnership |Businesses |Achievement

3 comments

Comments

  • John Costigane

    July 31 2008

    Hi Liz, It is good to see this levelling-off of packaging waste. With this process there is only 1 way to go and that reduction year by year. A problem I have noticed in committed recyclers fighting the good fight is the lack of standard advice given to householders. The confusion this causes is very frustrating. Surely rigorous standards alongside full local services, including food waste collections, are required to hasten the changes in householder behaviour. To expect householders, apart from the zealots, to fully participate beforehand is a nonsense. Can Wrap enforce these changes because councils will not do it unaided? Keep up the good work, John.

  • Liz Goodwin

    September 02 2008

    John. I agree we have to build on the start we have made with Courtauld and see year on year reductions in packaging. Our research suggests you are right too about the need to reduce the confusion about what can be recycled from area to area. An important point though. WRAP can’t force councils to do anything. Ultimately it’s voters who decide if they are doing the right thing. But it seems that voters are putting pressure on councils and retailers to extend the amount of packaging which they can effectively recycle. WRAP is helping the process along by bringing local authorities and retailers together with the packaging industry to work out ways to achieve this. And we are planning to work with local authorities to develop some principles, which we can all promote, of what a good recycling service should look like. Our recycling systems have come a long way in a short time – but they are not the finished article yet. Liz

  • Paul Vanston

    September 10 2008

    John, if I may speak from a local authority perspective, Liz is absolutely spot on with her assessment. The Kent Waste Partnership (of all 13 councils in Kent) is moving forward in the ways that Liz suggests. I don't claim that we've got everything perfect - but by the same token we're focusing on waste reduction, and behaviour change, with a much higher profile than has been done in the past. To that end we work very closely with Wrap to support them in their activities, not least as success by Wrap is success for us all. On the food waste issue, the KWP is probably the principle local authority waste partnership supporting the Love Food Hate waste campaign. Residents here in Kent have very much valued the work done on Love Food Hate waste since last November. We can also show some really positive results ... thus far! Hope this is helpful. Best wishes, Paul Vanston, Kent County Council and Kent Waste Partnership

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