PackFlow team update the research which could show
the way forward for packaging recycling to 2012
February 2010
The PackFlow group, which includes organisations
and experts such as Valpak, INCPEN, Alupro, Corus, British Glass, RECOUP, WRAP and
other material organisations and trade associations, have worked under the support
and guidance of the Valpak Consulting team to produce an up-to-date PackFlow report.
DEFRA, BIS and the devolved administrations agreed a watching brief on the research
and the report in order to have access to the information without directly influencing
its outcome. The work was started by the group in 2005 and has been updated on a
regular basis to provide a clear and agreed view of packaging and packaging flows
in the UK and areas which should be of concern or opportunity in the future.
Steve Gough, Valpak CEO, commented:
"The PackFlow project is an impressive
piece of work, with each member of the stakeholder group bringing its own knowledge
and support to the project. I am sure you can see that the findings of the report
are significant and provide direction to many involved in this sector in facing
the problems of reducing waste and thinking of packaging as a resource to be reclaimed,
recovered and recycled. I would like to thank the Valpak Consulting staff for having
the skill and expertise to take this complex area and break it down into a simple
report."
Jane Bickerstaffe, INCPEN, commented:
"INCPEN has been pleased to be
involved with this important work. It provides useful guidance for future planning
by forecasting the quantity of products and packaging likely to be put on the market."
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of the Aluminium materials organisation - Alupro,
commented:
"This has been a huge piece of
work, involving many stakeholders, evaluating many factors which will have an impact
on increasing the volumes of packaging collected for recycling between now and 2012.
It provides a unique insight into the opportunities for boosting collection levels
for all materials. For the aluminium sector it has reconfirmed our view that we
must focus on boosting collections of aluminium cans consumed away from home and
boost the capture rates of drinks cans, aerosols and foil collected at kerbside."
The report uses complex predictive modelling techniques
to map the flow of packaging by material into the UK waste streams and predicts
future recycling trends. It also projects the gap between what is presently collected
and what we need to recycle in the future. Using expert advice, reports and published
statistics it builds a truly unique and detailed picture of the issue.
The key findings of the report are:
- the last four years has seen
steady growth in the quantity of packaging flowing onto the UK market, despite
the fact that all material streams have been continually working towards light-weighting
of individual packs
- over the last four years total
UK packaging recycling has increased from 50% to 60-62%, and is projected to
reach between 68% and 72% by 2012
- recycling of household consumer
packaging now makes up almost 45% of the total, and is increasing more rapidly
than commercial and industrial packaging
- the highest growth rates in
future are likely to be seen in Away from Home collections
- collections of household packaging
are now widely available throughout the country, and the greatest opportunities
for future increases lie in increasing the capture rates from existing schemes
rather than relying on major new facilities
- if packaging recycling increases
as predicted, then an additional approximately 1.1 million tonnes of carbon
emissions will be saved (vs. 2006)
- the greatest opportunities
lie in increasing aluminium and plastic packaging recycling
This tremendously detailed report is now available
with the executive summary being released into the public domain today. A briefing
seminar is also being held with Local Authorities, media representatives and other
interested parties being invited to come and find out more details. This event is
planned to take place early in 2010. A copy of the executive summary can be downloaded
from the Valpak website: www.valpak.co.uk/PackFlow
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