The Waste and Resources Action Programme’s (WRAP) UK Plastics Pact, of which Nestlé UK is a founding member, has published its 2018/19 progress report, detailing members progress on working to create a world where plastic is valued and doesn’t pollute the environment. The report has revealed:
- 1 billion problematic and unnecessary single use plastic items will be eliminated by the end of 2020
- Pact members are over halfway towards all their packaging being recyclable, and the UK is over half-way towards recycling 70% of plastic packaging
- Members are a third of the way towards an average of 30% recycled content in their plastic packaging
- Highly complex challenges remain, such as developing a recycling system for films and flexible packaging
UK Plastic Pact members have all committed to meet the following 2025 targets:
- Eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (reuse) delivery models
- 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable
- 70% of plastic packaging effectively recycled or composted
- 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging
In line with the UK Plastic Pact targets, Nestlé globally will make 100% of its packaging recyclable or re-usable by 2025. Nestlé's work on plastics and packaging has accelerated in 2019 with the opening of the Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences in Switzerland. The Institute is focusing on a number of science and technology areas, such as refillable or reusable packaging, simplified packaging materials, recycled packaging materials, high-performance barrier papers as well as bio-based, compostable and biodegradable materials.
This month Nestlé announced its entire range of Buxton Natural Mineral Water will be made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET), while remaining 100% recyclable, by 2021.
Earlier in the year Nescafé announced it has eliminated black plastic from across its consumer range meaning all of its lids can be recycled. The vast majority of sorting machines at UK recycling centres do not detect black plastic and as a result, black plastic goes to incinerators or landfill sites.
Read the full report from the UK Plastics Pact here: www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/The-UK-Plastics-Pact-report-18-19.pdf