SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

The 2020 roadmap for sustainable business

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#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
Now is the time Tackling plastic pollution and building a circular plastics economy in the
UK is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most emotive challenges we
have taken on at WRAP. This is also the case for businesses that place
to accelerate plastic packaging on the market. They are under sustained pressure
from their customers and employees to act on this issue – and act fast.
action There is no simple solution. We are and unnecessary single use plastics
trying to reverse a complicated have been subject to consumer
and complex system that has taken and media scrutiny and some
decades to evolve and which is items are almost consigned to
woven into the tapestry of our lives history – take plastic stemmed
– the versatility and durability of the cotton buds, for example. WRAP
plastics has also been its downfall. leads The UK Plastics Pact, and
our members (who account for
Yet change is happening. The way around 85% of plastic packaging in
that we make, use and dispose of UK supermarkets) have committed
plastic is transforming. Problematic to eliminate eight problematic or
unnecessary single-use plastics by
the end of 2020. That accounts for
A foreword by
a massive one billion plastic items.
We also know that supermarkets
Peter Maddox have already removed 3,400 tonnes
Director of unnecessary plastic packaging
WRAP UK from fresh produce – that’s the
equivalent of 272 London buses!
Of course, this is just the tip of the
iceberg. There are many more
plastic items that we urgently need
to examine in order to remove
plastic packaging where it is not
deemed necessary, and, when it is
necessary, to ensure this packaging
is recyclable or reusable and goes
back into the economic use. For
1
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example, through the Pact we are
investigating non-detectable black
plastic packaging that doesn’t get
picked up in the recycling process,
as well as a range of flexible
plastics and films in everyday use.
Significant challenges lie ahead,
particularly around the films
and flexible packaging and
development of reuse and refill
models. These must be our top
priorities as we work urgently
towards a world where plastic
doesn’t pollute the environment.
It is also imperative that any
move away from plastic to
other materials does not result
in unintended consequences,
particularly in relation to food waste
and greenhouse gas emissions.
We have great momentum but
now it is time to really accelerate
action within businesses,
across supply chains and with
consumers. There is a real sense
of urgency – the planet can’t
accept anything less. n
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Welcome to edie’s
Mission Possible report
on single-use plastics Tackling
single-use
plastics in the
Since that episode of Blue eliminate, redesign and innovate UK: A progress Infographic:
Planet 2 aired in 2018, more their way out of single-use plastics
Industry update Single-use
than 400 businesses have across their operations, supply
pledged to eliminate or replace chains, products and services;
viewpoint plastics in the
unnecessary single-use plastics and engage with consumers to
UK
through a variety of platforms, ensure that the mistakes of the
including the Ellen MacArthur plastics era aren’t repeated as we
Foundation’s New Plastics transition to a circular economy.
Economy Global Commitment,
and even edie’s own Mission I invite you to read the findings
Possible Plastics Hub. of this report, absorb the
best-practice case studies, be
Yet, the time to commit to action inspired by our hand-picked Mission edie’s single-
is over, and we have entered selection of expert contributors, Possible Plastics use plastics Operations
a decade of deliverance on and then make your own Hub pledges online event
sustainability strategies and plastics commitment via our
single-use plastic phase-outs. The Mission Possible Pledge Wall,
processes to deliver on ambitions to help make 2020 the year we
are not simple for businesses as finally turn the tide on single-
they tie into financial decisions, use plastics.
consumer preference and supply
chain education. There is also
a risk that the choices business
makes today can lead to Consumer The supply
unintended consequences in the engagement chain
future, especially regarding the
materials used to replace plastics. Products &
services
As such, edie’s Mission Possible Matt Mace
Plastics Hub report for 2020 Content Editor
outlines how UK businesses can edie
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Tackling single-use plastics

in the UK: A progress update
For more than 100 years, plastics has left
its imprint on the modern world. From the
polymers used to drive military efficiency in
the build up to World War II, to the synthetic
plastics that have engulfed the consumer
goods market, the material has been the
building block of how the world operates.

From improving food safety and (including those related to resource

shelf life to reducing packaging
weight and therefore transport
emissions, plastics have a
valuable role to play in society
when used correctly. The issue,
of course, is that they have been
produced as a product of a
broken and linear economy.
In the UK, research suggests that
five million tonnes of plastic are
used annually, almost half of which
is packaging. More alarmingly,
WWF estimates that recycling
rates for plastic sat at 29% in 2018
and are projected to rise by just
8% by 2030 – the year where the
Sustainable Development Goals
efficiency and climate action) are
meant to be achieved.
Plastics take thousands of
years to decompose naturally,
meaning if they aren’t correctly
collected, they linger in the natural
environment. This is a common
trait of single-use plastics, such as
bottles, bags and cutlery, which
don’t hold enough value to be
rigorously pursued and collected
for recycling. As such, single-use
plastics are emblematic of the
imagery that now dominates
newspapers, websites and social
media – when the linear economy
leaks, it leaks into nature.
In recent years, a domino effect
has occurred, sparked by just
90 seconds of the Blue Planet II
television series which highlighted
the destructive impact that plastics
have on the natural environment.
It acted as the lightning rod moment
in which consumers all over the
world demanded action from
business and governments alike.
Despite most plastics seeping
into the oceans from developing
countries, the focus has been
on the recycling systems of
developed countries, notably the
UK. Two-thirds of UK plastic waste
is exported for recycling, but the
likes of China, Malaysia, Thailand
and Vietnam have since banned
plastic waste imports.
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#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
The emphasis is on the UK
to handle its own plastics
waste, or better yet, create the
infrastructure so that it is no longer
viewed as waste. Last December,
the then-Environment Secretary
Michael Gove announced a new
Resources and Waste Strategy
which outlines sweeping changes
for how the UK deals with plastic
waste.
The UK Government’s long-awaited
25-year Environment Plan pledges
to eliminate all “avoidable” plastic
waste by the end of 2042, but
many businesses and councils have
since committed to tackling the
issue ahead of that timeframe.
The growing global awareness
on plastics and the designed
policy frameworks to respond
have made single-use plastics a
business-critical issue that carries
environmental and reputational risks
for those who fail to act in time.
Many have pledged to eliminate
or replace single-use plastics
through a variety of platforms,
including the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation’s New Plastics Economy
Global Commitment and edie’s
own Mission Possible Plastics
Hub. Already, businesses have
highlighted a collection of “problem
plastics” that can be eliminated
4
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over the course of a year.
Yet, truly transformational
businesses are focusing on
more than just reductions.
Plastic packaging is ready to be
redesigned and redefined so
that any packaging, product or
alternative material put onto the
market is reusable, recyclable or
compostable, and actually functions
as its meant to.
Even at the start of 2020, efforts
to combat plastics lack joined-up
way of thinking. A new report from
the Green Alliance shows that
companies are under “considerable
and justified pressure” to move
away from single-use plastics,
often at the expense of carbon
impacts and existing infrastructure
to handle different materials.
This throws up some key challenges
for UK businesses, but many have
already set commitments well
ahead of the UK Government’s
deadline. The emphasis now is
on business to ensure that the
plastics debate evolves into one
of environmental stewardship that
generates lessons to create a world
without waste, not just a world
without single-use plastics. n
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INFOGRAPHIC: Single-use plastics in the UK

It’s been one of the biggest sustainable business issues of the past decade: tackling the scourge of single-use plastics. In 2018-19, the so-called
“Attenborough effect” gave this issue the mainstream attention it deserved, and thousands of businesses duly began to ramp up their efforts to
eliminate single-use plastics. Here are some of the standout stats related to the past, present and future of single-use plastics in the UK.

9% of the 8.3
billion tonnes
of Brits are ‘extremely’
or ‘very’ concerned
about reducing the
2042 70,000 TONNES
REDUCTION IN PLASTIC WASTE
GOING TO LANDFILL BETWEEN

67 billion
2012 AND 2016
amount of packaging The year by which the
of plastics produced
they require uk will Have eliminated
globally has been recycled
plastic bottles are to All “avoidable”
be avoided by PepsiCo Plastics waste as 2012

through expansion to its Part of the 25-year

2 MILLION TONNES
OF PLASTIC PACKAGING 40% SodaStream business Environment plan

IS USED IN THE of UK SMEs are yet 2016

UK EACH YEAR
to carry out plastic
reduction efforts 400+
businesses have

350,000 tonnes
signed up to the Ellen
MacArthur Foundation’s
New Plastics Economy
60%
of plastic is now recycled in of 18-to-24-year-olds are willing to
Global Commitment spend more on brands that support
the UK annually, compared
with 13,000 in 2000 environmental causes

4.8-12.7
70%
of business plastic
million tonnes
of plastic enter the ocean each year, according
8 million
pieces of plastics enter
packaging is to be
to figures published in the journal Science the oceans daily £12.8M INVESTMENT
MADE BY COCA-COLA AND ITS
recycled or composted
EUROPEAN BOTTLING PARTNERS
by 2025 under the UK
Plastics Pact. TO REMOVE SHRINK WRAP
FROM ITS CAN MULTIPACKS
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Operations
The challenges a company faces when reducing and eliminating Key actions:
single-use plastics (SUPs) internally will vary based on the size
of the organisation. While larger companies will likely have Create your definitions and influence

more SUP to remove, they will also have larger resources, Plastics still serve valuable purpose for
business and steps should be made in
both financial and personnel, to deliver on phase-out pledges your organisation to define the types of

compared to a smaller business. However, there is a strategic plastics and areas of use that you want
to phase-out.
blueprint that can be followed by organisations of all sizes.
Measure your impacts
As the old adage goes, you can’t
manage what you can’t measure. Site
audits and even weighing out your
plastics footprint will allow you to
uncover areas of immediate reduction.

Enlighten your employees

By taking employees with you on this
journey, you can create ambassadors
for your plastics phase-out out which
delivers more ownership across
different business functions.

Beware: unintended consequences

Fully consider the impacts of switching
to materials like glass and metal and
the impact that could have on lifecycle
emissions. Also realise that options such
as oxo-degradable and biodegradable
may not operate as such unless treated
industrially.
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Elimination of SUPs won’t occur
overnight. It requires a culture
change that ensures that all
employees are educated and
encouraged to act to reduce SUP
use. This culture change should
ultimately be delivered through a
top-down approach.
Some larger companies have
established steering groups and
committees, featuring senior
management and board executives,
to rollout and shape plastic reduction
measures. The boardroom buy-in is
essential in motivating other areas
of staff to act. Take Sky for example,
which has established a cross-
business steering group to push the
rest of the business to act on plastics.
As with placing any sustainability
matter to the boardroom, a business
should view SUP phase-outs as a
reputational issue that can make
an organisation a more attractive
place to work and appease
consumer demands. ClientEarth’s
Risk Unwrapped report details the
reputational, liability and physical
risks posed to businesses moving too
slowly to combat plastics use.
This will enable the creation
of a new culture of reuse and
recycling, rather than a one-time
reduction project.
With the board now welcoming
internal action on SUPs, a business
needs to define what SUP is for
them – and, indeed, if SUPs are
still a necessity at this moment in
time. Some SUPs such as straws
are essential for those with
disabilities, while medical gloves
and equipment made from plastic
may still be deemed as ‘essential’
for some businesses. For food
producers, meanwhile, SUPs still
play a vital role in reducing food
wastage by keeping produce fresh.
Once a business has defined its
SUP impacts, it should fully audit
and measure its plastics footprint
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Read:
Examining consequences
of plastic alternatives
It is better to focus on replacements
that replicate the “Waste Hierarchy”
which prioritises reduction and reuse,
before promoting recycling. In the case
of SUPs, this hierarchy would focus on
the recyclability of renewable materials,
such as paper and fibre, over recyclable
plastics, for example.
Businesses also shouldn’t overlook the
quick-wins. Plastic cutlery, cotton buds,
stirrers and polystyrene packaging are
usually the first items in the crosshairs for
plastics phase-outs. In fact, companies
signed up to the UK Plastic Pact have
to gain better understanding committed to removing eight “problem
of how much is consumed plastics” by 2020, including cutlery, cotton
and disposed and identify buds and polystyrene packaging. Items
any internal hotspots across such as plastic bottles, plastic-lined coffee
facilities. Sky, for example, has cups and the aforementioned cutlery can
undertaken a plastic footprint all be replaced with refillable variants
mapping exercise in the same or glass, metal or china alternatives.
way it maps its carbon footprint. Some businesses are swapping plastic
All products and packaging are milk bottles for dispensers and swapping
separated for weighing, with smaller commodity bags for larger,
the weight of single-use plastics recyclable, alternatives.
included in each item entered
into a database. This digital tool Where possible, businesses should also
then enables Sky to identify amend food vendor contracts to ensure no
hotspots and re-design products SUPs are offered as part of food services.
or packaging. The Spring restaurant in London, for example,
had to cancel agreements with a beef
supplier over a reluctance to move from
plastic packaging.
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Exploring the alternatives
Despite mounting consumer
pressure for drastic and immediate
plastic reduction from retailers,
businesses should take extra
time to consider the unintended
consequences any plastic-free
alternatives could bring.
Alternative materials badged
as “bio-based” may not be
recyclable, while “biodegradable”,
“oxodegradable” and
“compostable” alternatives may
only degrade through industrial
processes; as such, they’ll have to
be sent to and collected through
the relevant waste streams.
Engaging employees
Any changes to internal infrastructure
should be effectively communicated
to staff. Swapping to alternatives
“In office spaces, removing bins from
desks to make way for centralised
waste collection bins and recycling
points will also ensure that any SUPs
brought into operations are correctly
recycled.”
won’t solve the plastics problem
alone, and businesses should pursue
cultural changes that energise staff.
Promoting and educating staff on
the benefits of refill, perhaps even
through financial incentives and
discounts, will help change become
habit and, if possible, businesses
should provide reusables for staff
rather than ordering them to
bring their own. Computershare,
a Bristol-based financial services
company, has given a reusable cup
to each of its 1,500 employees.
In office spaces, removing bins
from desks to make way for
centralised waste collection bins
and recycling points will also
ensure that any SUPs brought into
operations are correctly recycled.
Canary Wharf Group is a business
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
that is innovating on this front,
having introduced its first deposit
return vending machine for plastic
bottles and containers last year.
Again, staff engagement and
ongoing behaviour change are
needed here. The aim should be to
build an understanding and get staff
to act on plastics habitually. Food
producer Cranswick has created
three groups of “waste warriors”,
who are tasked with engaging their
colleagues on SUP issues at each
of its sites. Handing responsibility
over to staff can inspire a ripple
effect that embeds SUP reductions
within each function. Feedback
tools such as focus groups, or
a dedicated email address can
then enable staff to provide their
own recommendations of plastic
alternatives. n
8
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Further reading:
Top 10 tips to
eliminate single-
use plastics from
your business
Representatives from Sky, Cranswick,
Aquafil and A Plastic Planet give us
their secrets to success when it comes
to eliminating single-use plastics from
internal operations.
Read the full story here >
Further reading:
How Canary Wharf
group created a
plastic-free estate
Canary Wharf Group has removed
more than two million single-use
plastic items from its 16.5 million
sq.ft estate over a 12-month
period, including one million plastic
straws across 83 retailers, by
taking these actions...
Read the full story here >
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The supply chain
As is the case with most sustainability
issues, true business leadership is being
driven by the select few firms that are
looking outside of their own impact to
ignite long-lasting change.
The high flexibility and light weight
of plastic makes the material
optimal for the transportation of
products and goods and it offers
up an easy way for businesses to
brand their products through extra
layers of ultimately avoidable
material.
The supply chain is, therefore, an
ideal frontier for businesses to cut
back on unnecessary plastics by
creating a ripple effect that gets
other organisations, both big and
small, to examine and act on their
own plastics footprints.
Doing so is no easy task, but as
the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s
New Plastics Economy Global
Commitment Progress Report
shows, most leading businesses are
viewing plastics reductions through
the lens of the supply chain.
Many businesses are adopting
a collaborative approach to
supply chain engagement; one
that focuses on engagement and
encouragement – rather than
explicit demands – to phase-out
plastics. Burberry, for example, has
disclosed to the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation that it has established
a Supply Chain Packaging
Taskforce which is looking at ways
to eliminate problematic plastic
packaging.
Engaging the supply chain
becomes easier if a business has
a public target on plastics that
creates a clear picture of how
it plans to avoid unnecessary
plastics and informs suppliers of
the role they must play. While the
target acts as the end goal, the
supply chain must be educated on
the types of plastics it should be
phasing out, and the benefits that
can be generated from doing so.
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“The high flexibility
and light weight of
plastic make the
material optimal for
the transportation of
products and goods
and it offers up an easy
way for businesses to
brand their products
through extra layers of
ultimately avoidable
material.”
Further reading:
Coca-Cola to replace
plastic shrink wrap with
paper packaging across
Europe
Coca-Cola and its European bottling
partners will remove shrink wrap from its
can multipacks, to be replaced with a €15m
(£12.8m) investment into a paper-based
packaging solution by the end of 2021.
Read the full story here >
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Survey:
Almost half of UK SMEs
are failing to act on
single-use plastics
A major survey of more than 1,000 UK small
and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) has
found that, while the majority of businesses
understand the importance of reducing single-
use plastics, 40% are yet to carry out basic
measures to reduce plastic waste.
Read the full story here >
As is often the case when
discussing sustainability with
those outside of the department,
benefits should be discussed
through an economic lens, as well
as tapping into the current public
uproar on plastics use.
Carrot or stick?
Most leading businesses will
already have existing touchpoints
with tier one suppliers, meaning
that adding plastics as a
consideration should be a natural
development in the business/
supplier relationship. Steering
groups should be set up to
provide progress and visions,
but can also act as a chance for
suppliers to recommend their
own ideas and uncover new
opportunities. Unipart Logistics
and Sky removed more than
120 tonnes of single-use plastic
from the supply chain through
bespoke workshops that led to
“Suppliers should feel invigorated to act, and it
is the role of the end-user to provide knowledge
and expertise to allow them to innovate their
way out of plastics use.”
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
‘jiffy bags’ being replaced with
paper boxes, for example. Sky
engaged with its supply chain
to show that logistics can avoid
single-use plastics in a cost-
neutral way.
This approach, known as
onboarding, creates supply
chains that actively want to
find ways to reduce plastics
use, rather than a collection of
organisations that feel forced to
do so. Successfully harnessing this
willingness will, again, come down
to measurements and auditing to
uncover the plastic impact of a
business’s supply chain. Fashion
business Everlane has eliminated
75% of virgin plastics from its
supply chain and started its
journey by visiting and auditing
overseas factories in Taiwan, Sri
Lanka, Vietnam, China and Italy.
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Key actions:
Make public targets
Setting public goals makes all
stakeholders and suppliers aware of
your phase-outs. Again, definitions
on areas of action and the types of
materials to avoid will ensure that your
supply chain is on this journey with you
Measure and manage
Supply chains can be complex and
span multiple nations. Where possible,
attempt on-the-ground audits, or hire
those with the expertise to do so. This
gives the end-user more presence in the
supply chain efforts to phase-out and
gives access to better data.
Open feedback is key
Once the target is in place, it is
important to give suppliers a platform
to ask questions or even share ideas.
Forums and focus groups could give you
some new solutions that you weren’t
aware of.
Create a ripple
Much like with employees, phase-outs
in the supply chain can take on a life of
their own, leading to other companies
to create their own strategies if they
feel the engagement from the end-user
was strong enough.
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Once a business has access to
this data, it needs to be explicit in
the areas and plastics that it no
longer wants to use. Again, the
public target and definition will
help educate suppliers on this, and
reduce the chance that they will
struggle to innovate or focus on
the wrong areas. Typical materials
that a business would want to
veto from the outset are any
materials that will contaminate
traditional plastics recycling, such
as black plastics.
Ripple effect
Suppliers should feel invigorated
to act, and it is the role of the
end-user to provide knowledge
and expertise to allow them to
innovate their way out of plastics
use. Waitrose, for example, is
refusing to use biodegradable
materials in its packaging
and suppliers should be made
aware of the potential risks of
replacements. Instead, plastic-free
alternatives should be pursued.
Danone worked with its supply
chain to integrate its logo onto the
bottle, rather than with a separate
plastic sleeve. These types of
collaborative approaches will help
set up new business models that
span the entire supply chain.
Some companies work individual
targets for plastic phase-outs
into new and existing supplier
contracts now. Internet Fusion
Group set up stipulations for its
800 suppliers to “only provide
recyclable and biodegradable
delivery packaging”.
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There may come a time where
businesses have to turn away
from historic suppliers for failure
to act. There’s no blueprint for
these types of conversations,
but if a business is succinct in
the types of plastics it wants
removed and actively engages
the supply chain to help with
the phase-outs, then these
conversations should come
as a last resort. It is better to
be positive to create change
across the value chain than to
be punishing to ensure that your
plastics footprint is in order. n
Material matrix:
Biodegradable vs Oxo-degradable
Many businesses are looking for
materials that will degrade if
they do enter into the natural
environment. The two most
common forms are biodegradable
and oxo-degradable.
Biodegradable plastics are usually
a subset of plastics sourced from
bio-based materials that can be
converted into water and CO2
at their end of life. How long a
material takes to biodegrade is
dependent on the environment,
and businesses should clearly
articulate the parameters for their
materials to biodegrade. This can
be achieved at an industry level,
or through composting, which
will have to be certified by a third
party, ideally to the EN 13432
European standard.
Oxo-degradables are
conventional plastics mixed
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with an additive that allows
for a natural accelerated
breakdown of the material,
usually fragmented into small
pieces, or degrading entirely.
This has led to fears that oxo-
degradable leads to the creation
of microplastics.
In January 2018, the European
Commission asked the European
Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to
investigate the environmental
impact of “oxo-degradable” on
those concerns and while the
industry continues to articulate
that the material can completely
degrade a ban on oxo-
degradable plastics has been
placed into draft EU legislation.
As it stands, the material should
be avoided by business due to
legislative concerns, although
the industry is trying to take the
decision makers to court.
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Products In December 2018, a study published in the

peer-reviewed Science Advances journal
Key actions:

found that only 9% of the 8.3 billion tonnes

and services
Innovate the business model

of plastics produced globally has been Removals and replacements

will only get you so far on your
recycled and 79% is stored up in landfills or plastics journey. Switching to

seeping into the natural environment. For reuse models or service-based

transactions will help consumers
plastic packaging, just 14% globally makes it limit the amount of plastics they

to recycling plants while one-third seeps into purchase from you.

ecosystems and 40% ends up in landfill. Use the heirarchy

With packaging branded to
the point of instant recognition,
there is a good chance that a
company’s plastics packaging
will impact reputation,
especially if it is spotted in the
natural environment. There is
a reputational risk by failing
to align products and services
with the circular economy,
with MediaCom’s research
finding that 60% of 18-to-24-
year-olds are willing to spend
more on brands that support
environmentally causes.
Businesses are recognising that
they can make huge strides in
reducing plastics use through the
products that they push across
the value chain. Moving away
from the ‘take-make-dispose’
model can be achieved in
various ways, but an ideal place
to start is focusing on the “Four
Rs” of products – Reduce, Reuse,
Replace and Recycle – ideally in
that order.
Reductions
The first step that a business
should take when looking at
its products and services is
identifying areas to reduce and
remove unnecessary plastics.
This can range from removing
external plastics sleeves and
shrink wrap, all the way through
to reducing the overall size of the
packaging – the latter is being
explored by Asda for air-filled
crisp packets, for example.
Prevention and reuse should be
the ultimate goal in transitioning
products and packaging to a
circular economy, with recycling and
recovering used as an interim step
to fix the mistakes already made
Know your materials
Watch out for sustainability
trade-offs, especially regarding
carbon emissions and end-of-
life treatment. Lifecycle analysis
is key to getting the correct
alternatives in place
Start with trials
Plastics requires businesses to
think big, but for more innovative
solutions starting small will allow
you to collect the feedback and
data you need to examine costs,
performance and quality of new
products and services.
Supporting partner
Further reading:
Paper Bottle Community:
Is this the beginning of
the end for the single-use
plastic bottle?
Following the launch of Carlsberg’s
paper bottle prototypes, edie
explores how Coca-Cola, The
Absolut Company and L’Oréal are
joining the brewer to scale-up
paper-based solutions that replace
or rival single-use plastic bottles.
Read the full story here >
Further reading:
TerraCycle: The global
refill revolution is here
to stay
With consumer concerns around
plastics and climate change
skyrocketing, brands are
increasingly betting on reuse and
refill models to minimise both
carbon and waste, TerraCycle’s chief
executive officer Tom Szaky has
revealed.
Read the full story here >
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
Editorial credit: / Shutterstock.com
A lot of the time, the packaging can
be replaced with paper or fibre-
based alternatives. McDonald’s
has recently introduced “lidless”
McFlurrys that feature foldable
paper-based flaps on the existing
packaging which create a new lid.
However, paper is one such material
that carries its own risks, namely
deforestation, and McDonald’s
is sourcing paper and fibre from
certified sustainable sources.
13
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McDonald’s has recently
introduced a “lidless” McFlurry.
consumer relations to a service-
based loop. Companies including
Sky, Gillette, Mars Petcare,
Colgate Palmolive, Kellogg,
Acuvue, Hovis and Ella’s Kitchen
have all enrolled in recycling
firm TerraCycle’s Loop initiative,
whereby businesses provide
product refills to consumers
while retaining ownership of their
reusable packaging.
While the packaging can be
reused, some retailers are
promoting refill as a viable
solution to plastics packaging.
Waitrose’s Unpacked trial started
in June 2019 at the Oxford Botley
Road store, which now features
a refillable zone, including
dispensers for dry goods, coffee,
beer and wine refills, and a frozen
‘pick and mix’, as well as Ecover
detergent and washing up liquid.
Many consumer-facing
companies, especially retailers,
have taken steps to remove
disposable coffee cups in
stores and have stopped selling
plastics straws and cotton buds
altogether.
Reuse & Replace
Reuse is gaining traction as more
businesses shift their packaging
from a transactional aspect of
 Supporting partner
Material matrix:
Bio-based vs Paper-based
Bio-based plastics derive from biomass
sources – commonly waste products and
renewable sources of sugarcane or starch
– that can help reduce how much plastic
material is derived from fossil fuel production.
Around 8% of the world’s oil is used to make
plastic.
As they perform similarly to conventional
plastics, bio-based plastics can (usually)
be treated as such, either via landfill, most
recycling facilities, or sent to industrial
compost sites. However, there are debates
and concerns that bio-based or partly bio-
based packaging, mainly the land use and
practices for growing crops for bio-based
materials. Concerns still remain over land
scarcity as populations increase and the use
of fertilisers, which could cause pollution.
Paper and fibre-based packaging, on the other
hand, is a much better understood material
from the consumer perspective, while it is
suitable for outer packaging, such as drink
multipacks and wraps, it obviously doesn’t have
the durability of conventional plastics, although
some businesses are applying recycled plastic
resins to paper-based alternatives. The main
issue to look out for when sourcing paper is
that it doesn’t contribute to deforestation. The
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC) are two commonly used
sustainability standards.
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
Speaking of Ecover, the company
has housed its products in a bottle
made from ocean waste plastics,
a market that is growing in size
as businesses actively look to pull
waste from the natural environment
and give it a second life. This can be
achieved by connecting with on-
the-ground NGOs such as Thread,
which has created new jobs in
developing countries for people to
collect ocean waste.
Larger businesses are outright
buying disruptive new solutions
to help limit their plastic use. In
December 2018, PepsiCo completed
the acquisition of SodaStream,
an in-home water brand that
transforms tap water into flavoured
and sparkling drinks in a deal worth
$3.2bn. Through expansion to this
business, PepsiCo estimates that 67
billion plastic bottles will be avoided
through to 2025.
However, it is important to realise
that sometimes there is no better
alternative to plastics, especially
when it comes to protecting
food and preserving shelf life. It
is why so many businesses trial
replacement materials or reuse
schemes, using select facilities
that are easier to collect data
and feedback on. If trials prove
successful, businesses should
then look at incrementally rolling
them out across all facilities to
ensure the plastics phase-outs
don’t generate any unintended
consequences, either through user
dissatisfaction or environmental
trade-offs such as an increased
carbon footprint.
Recycle
Businesses now have a duty of
care to ensure that the products
14
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and packaging they place onto the
market are able to be collected
for recycling. Most supermarkets,
for example, have collaborated to
replace black plastics – commonly
used in ready meal trays – which
can’t be identified in traditional
recycling facilities due to the dark
pigments, and often end up in
landfill as a result.
Morrisons has chosen to completely
remove the material from its
products, while Unilever created
a new pigment – in collaboration
with RECOUP, WRAP and waste
management giants Veolia, SUEZ,
Viridor and TOMRA - which makes
black plastics detectable. Waitrose,
on the other hand, introduced a
home-compostable alternative
made from tree pulp. It is 10% lighter,
and has recorded a 50% reduction
in CO2 emissions.
As black plastics show, there is no
silver bullet to plastic alternatives,
which gives businesses a
real impetus to innovate and
collaborate on new solutions. For
those in need of inspiration, the
UK’s first plastic-free convenience
store – Thornton’s Budgens in
Camden – is living proof that
almost all products can be sold
without plastic packaging. n
 Supporting partner
Consumers
According to the Plastics Europe’s Market Research
and Statistics Group (PEMRG) 27% of 27.1 million tonnes
of post-consumer plastic waste collected in European
Union nations in order to be treated was landfilled.
“Engaging with the The stats alone connote a
consumer base on linear economy in action, one
waste management
where brands have shirked the
responsibility of their products and
packaging once it passes onto
and alternative the consumer. Fortunately, more
materials is key to businesses are understanding
the need to engage and educate
creating a circular consumers in order to promote a
economy void of truly circular economy.
waste and SUPs.” The chief executives of more
than 120 European businesses
have claimed that ‘leading
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
consumers’ is second only to
delivering impact beyond profits
for critical business actions.
With plastics acting as a visual
representation of the impact of
both business and consumerism,
engaging with the consumer
base on waste management and
alternative materials is key to
creating a circular economy void
of waste and SUPs.
15
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In numbers:
The growing
consumer demand
for sustainable
packaging
A new survey of 7,000 consumers
across seven European markets
garnering their views on plastic
packaging, packaging recyclability
and related green policies has been
published. Here, edie rounded up the
key facts and figures.
Read the full story here >
Further reading:
Waitrose to extend
plastic-busting
refill scheme
Waitrose & Partners is set to
extend its ‘Unpacked’ offering
of packaging-free, refillable
products, following a successful
trial of the concept at its Botley
Road store in Oxford.
Read the full story here >
 Supporting partner
Key actions:
Provide the incentive
Whether the choice is pre-made
for consumers, or incentivises
them to do so through discounts,
businesses can take simple
measures to help reduce plastic
footprints for consumers.
Engage in the long-term
Don’t expect to rollout a one-
time communications piece and
expect consumers to be on-board.
Use social message and active
campaigns to build a platform that
answers any confusion.
Take responsibility:
In the circular economy, business
has a role to ensure their products
and services stay in the loop –
either through services or explicit
instructions of how to recycle
materials. Think about the entire
value chain approach.
Become part of the community
From beach cleans to collection
points, businesses can bridge the
gap between consumers and waste
collectors by acting as a hub for
hard-to-recycle products.
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub 16
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Editorial credit: / Shutterstock.com
Changing behaviours is hard
enough internally, and at scale
becomes a mountainous task. In
fact, research from Kantar TNS
found that plastics packaging has
overtaken wages in supply chains
and carbon emissions as the top
CSR concern for shoppers. However,
shoppers still prioritise price
and quality over environmental
performance. Fortunately, there are
multi-pronged benefits to engaging
with consumers and business
customers on plastics.
“The ‘Nudge Theory’ has always been a The ‘Nudge Theory’ has always packaging and how they should be
been a popular choice for behaviour disposed of in a responsible manner.
popular choice for behaviour change, and change, and focuses on persuading Trade-offs are now an inherent part
focuses on persuading people towards people towards desirable decisions of sustainability and businesses
through choice editing. An example must observe carbon lifecycle
desirable decisions through choice editing. ” of this can be found from Just Eat’s considerations of glass or metal and
pre-ticked option for customers to be able to articulate that to those
opt-out of receiving plastic cutlery who ask.
and condiments when ordering.
The same applies for
This also applies to replacements biodegradable and compostable
for SUPs. There is a proliferation of alternatives, if they require
new materials emerging across industrial treatment to meet their
the market and, as outlined in the stated requirements, business
operations part of this report, they all should explicitly tell customers that,
have potential downsides attached. otherwise cases of greenwash
There is a danger that consumers and mistrust will emerge that will
aren’t informed about new forms of ultimately hurt bottom lines.
 Supporting partner
Material matrix:
Aluminium &
Re-usable materials
Ultimately, not all plastics need to be
replaced, and as businesses role out more
take-back schemes and refill stations,
the role of plastics will shift from single-
use to multiple reuse. Sales of “bags for
life” have boomed due to charges and
phase-outs on SUP bags while clear
plastic containers are now being used to
purchase commodities such as dry foods,
detergents and soaps without the added
packaging.
The Refill campaign is aiming to
get businesses and public spaces to
provide free water refills, but while
infrastructure places catch up, some
water bottle companies are turning to
aluminium to replace plastics. Reports
suggest that the national recycling rate
for plastic bottles sits around 30%. In
comparison, aluminium used for cans
and reusable bottles largely remain
in use. The Aluminium Association
estimates that 75% of all aluminium
ever produced is still in use. However,
aluminium manufacturing is an
energy-intensive exercise compared to
some plastics production. Business are
best served exploring reuse through
a plethora of materials that also
accounts for glass – rather than going
all in on one material.
Boots UK’s new compostable
paper bags, for example, feature
the On-Pack Recycling Label
(OPRL) standard for the benefit
of consumers. To ensure they are
disposed of correctly, Boots is
encouraging customers to use the
new bags as lines for their food
waste bins.
Other nudge theories can be
disguised as economic incentives
such as the 25p or 50p discounts
for using reusable cups that coffee
chains such as Costa, Starbucks
and Pret have rolled out. Elsewhere,
The Body Shop is offering store
credit for consumers who partake
in a take-back scheme for plastic
packaging. This is being delivered
in partnership with recycling firm
TerraCycle, which has unveiled the
LOOP platform, whereby businesses
provide product refills to consumers
while retaining ownership of their
reusable packaging.
Community collection
Viridor’s 2019 Recycling Index found
that almost nine in 10 consumers
believe that recycling plastics should
take place at home, but almost
half don’t trust the local collection
processes to do so. This has created
a unique position for businesses to
act as a bridge between consumer
and waste collectors through local
and community-based initiatives.
M&S, for example, is working with
Dow Chemical Company and
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
environmental charity Wastebuster,
to place collection points for plastics
which are not commonly accepted
for kerbside recycling at its stores
and select primary schools. Being
seen to be an active part of the
community also helps to build
customer loyalty to brands.
Businesses with larger scope and
influence have taken a national
approach to consumer education.
Coca-Cola’s first ever consumer-
facing sustainability awareness
campaign in the UK was a multi-
million-pound campaign to highlight
the recyclability of its products.
Whether local or national, long-term
cultural change can’t be delivered
through one-time awareness
campaigns and businesses should
be embedding their message
across all forms of communications,
marketing and labelling.
While it is important to give
consumers succinct messaging
about the recyclability of products
and packaging, it can be argued
that the wider public haven’t
developed the resource efficiency
debate beyond “plastics is the
enemy” – as such it is important to
showcase how recycled plastics is
becoming a burgeoning new market.
The post-consumer recycled plastics
market looks set to be worth more
than $10bn and in an era where raw
materials are increasing in price and
17
Visit the Plastics Hub >
Editorial credit: / Shutterstock.com
McDonald’s has
launched a new
decreasing in availability, plastics role renewable fibre
lid for cold drinks
in the circular economy is valuable to in France made
business. Already, the likes of Unilever, from recyclable
materials.
Procter & Gamble and Highland
Spring have rolled out recycled
plastics packaging and consumers
need to know that there is a value to
keeping this packaging in the loop.
With businesses facing a trust deficit
now is the time to be honest about
SUP replacements. McDonald’s has
launched a new renewable fibre
lid for cold drinks in France made
from recyclable materials. The firm
is honest in its revelation that the lid
isn’t perfect, but that it is part of the
progression to a circular economy
that meets consumer demands. In
the era of social media, businesses
now have a forum to have more
nuanced conversations with
consumers to highlight their progress,
even if it isn’t perfect yet. n
 Supporting partner

#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub 18

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(By submitting a pledge, edie readers are agreeing to the commitment,

Plastics Hub Pledges

target date and expected benefits being published on the Mission Possible
Pledge Wall, along with their name and job title. They are also agreeing to
being contacted by a member of the edie editorial team, should any further
information about their pledge be required.)

Launched in January 2019, the

Mission Possible Plastics Hub is MISSION POSSIBLE PLEDGE MISSION POSSIBLE PLEDGE
a content-driven campaign that
supports sustainability and resource “We pledge to “We pledge to reduce
efficiency professionals on our become the world’s our consumption of
first plastic-free plastic by 50% by
collective mission to eliminate commercial estate by
single-use plastics. 2020.” 2020.”
The online Hub, which is inspired by edie’s award-winning
Mission Possible campaign, was launched via a week-long
STATUS: ACHIEVED > STATUS: ON TRACK >
series of editorial action which included exclusive interviews,
podcasts, webinars and in-depth feature articles – all
dedicated to turning the tide on single-use plastics.

In addition to hosting content that supports businesses MISSION POSSIBLE PLEDGE MISSION POSSIBLE PLEDGE
with their single-use plastics phase-outs, the Mission
Possible Plastics Hub encourages sustainability
professionals to submit new commitments to tackle
“We pledge to phase “We pledge to
plastic pollution on the Mission Possible Pledge Wall. In out plastic straws in double the amount
total, 30 new pledges were secured upon the launch of all its UK and Ireland of recycled material
the Plastics Hub.
restaurants by the end used in packaging by
of 2018.” 2020.”
MAKE YOUR
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PLEDGE
 Supporting partner

#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub 19

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Industry viewpoint: Nestlé’s key actions

Spurring collaboration Nestlé’s ambition to make all of its packaging

either recyclable or reusable by 2025 sees the
and collective action to company building on many years of packaging
innovation to meet the challenge head-on.
create a waste-free future
Buxton
The impacts of packaging waste At the end of 2019, it was the range, currently made with a

are visible wherever you go in announced that Nestlé’s UK mineral

water brand, Buxton, will make its
minimum of 20% recycled plastic,
will follow next year.
the world. It is impossible to miss. entire range of bottles from 100%
recycled plastic by 2021. The bottles A key challenge for the brand is
will remain 100% recyclable, as the sourcing of high-quality, food
This is a result of a massive increase they have been for some time. grade plastic - as the availability
in the global production of plastics of a domestic UK supply of
- from two million tonnes annually The move to manufacture all new this material is still relatively
in 1950, to more than 300 million bottles solely from recycled plastic limited. Today, the rPET used
tonnes today - shaped by the will mean a significant reduction for the Buxton bottles has to be
increasing demands of our modern in the amount of virgin plastic sourced outside of the UK, as the
lives. Of the plastic packaging used in circulation. Buxton’s 75cl and country doesn’t currently have the
for food and beverages, much of 1 litre bottles are already made infrastructure available at scale to
it currently ends up in the natural from 100% rPET, and the rest of create the volumes needed.
environment, particularly in rivers
and oceans - causing enormous
harm to our ecosystems.

Plastic packaging plays an

important role in delivering food
and drink to consumers in a safe
and convenient way. However, as
companies, we must address its end
of life impacts if we are to create a Anna Turrell
circular economy. In order to do this,
we have to work together.
Head of Sustainability
Nestlé UK & Ireland
photo credit: Nestle
 Supporting partner

#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub 20

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Nestlé’s key actions

Nestlé’s ambition to make all of its packaging The issue of packaging waste and required it needs a joined up Institute of Packaging Sciences in
either recyclable or reusable by 2025 sees the littering is a societal challenge, and approach with both voluntary 2019 to enable us to accelerate our
company building on many years of packaging a concern shared by everyone. We, and regulatory action having an efforts, and the efforts of others,
innovation to meet the challenge head-on. along with governments, NGOs, important role to play. Indeed, in bringing functional, safe and
and importantly consumers, want collaboration and collective action environmentally friendly packaging
to see recyclability rates go up is absolutely vital for transforming solutions to the market and to
significantly, while the negative how packaging waste is managed. address the global challenge of
impact of packaging waste on the Recognising this, Nestlé opened the plastic packaging waste.
environment falls away completely.
Through close collaboration,
inspired innovation and carefully
crafted initiatives, we can
achieve the transformational
change to the system we need
- but this has to happen now.
photo credit: Nestle In order to achieve the changes
YES! bars
Confectionery is Nestlé’s largest The challenge for experts was
business in the UK. When it to find a way to use paper on
launched its ‘YES!’ healthier these high speed production “To achieve our
snacking range in 2018, the lines that have been designed commitment and
company wanted the new brand to for more durable plastic or
be one of the first in the world to laminate material. The new transform our
be wrapped in recyclable paper. wrapper then had to be tested packaging, we are
extensively to make sure it
Over a relatively short period of would keep YES! bars in perfect eliminating non-
time, Nestlé’s global R&D centre condition during production, recyclable plastics
for confectionery based in York transport and storage.
worked to develop a breakthrough and significantly
innovation that would allow a The packaging, made of a reducing our use
confectionery bar to be packaged in coated paper that is widely
paper using a high-speed flow wrap, recyclable with other paper, is of single-use
cold seal packaging line. Previously just the first step in transforming plastics.”
the process was only suitable for Nestlé’s confectionery packaging
plastic films and laminates. for the future.
 Supporting partner
As a company, we’re clear that
none of our packaging, including
plastics, should end up in landfill or
as litter, including in seas, oceans
and waterways. In order to make
this a reality, we’ve set ourselves
the commitment of ensuring that
100% of our packaging is reusable
or recyclable by 2025. As the
world’s largest food and beverage
manufacturer present in 189
countries, we have a lot of work
to do to make this a reality, but
we’re determined to get there.
To achieve our commitment and
transform our packaging, we
are eliminating non-recyclable
plastics and significantly
reducing our use of single-use
plastics. We are also introducing
reusable packaging, new
delivery systems and innovative
business models everywhere we
operate and sell our products.
This includes rolling out the
home delivery service Loop.
Part of the challenge we face as
a society today is that waste
management looks very
different in almost every country,
making it very difficult to
standardise systems and
processes.
With all of this work, we remain
really mindful of not creating
unintended consequences through
the changes we are making to
our packaging. A recent report
from UK-based environmental
NGO Green Alliance, highlighted
the potential implications of
moving to alternative materials
without necessarily considering
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub 21
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Nestlé’s key actions
Nestlé’s ambition to make all of
its packaging either recyclable
or reusable by 2025 sees the
company building on many
years of packaging innovation
to meet the challenge head-on.
Nescafé
In coffee, the dark brown or black lids of a
Nescafé jar was a familiar sight in kitchens
up and down the country for many years.
However, it has posed a problem to
recycling facilities that use sorting
machines, as the vast majority are unable
to detect dark plastic. That has meant the
dark plastic moving to incinerators or
landfill sites in other parts of the world.
To address the issue, Nescafé has adapted
the broader environmental the design and manufacturing of its lids
impacts. This is something that all to remove dark plastic in favour of other
stakeholders need to keep in mind colours in order to make sure that all lids,
as we continue to move forward across its consumer range, can be recycled.
on this journey.
It’s a simple example of how companies and
By working together with industry, brands can make small changes that make
government, civil society and a big difference overall, increasing the
consumers, we will create a amount of plastic that is being recycled and
waste-free future. n retained within a circular economy.
 Supporting partner
#MissionPossiblePlasticsHub #PlasticsHub
Session 1 – 13:00-13:45
Q&A debate: Plastics Policy,
Recycling and the Role of
Business
Single-use plastics: Synopsis:
Kicking off our Inspiration Sessions, a
The business leadership selection of industry leaders and circular
economy experts discuss what needs
to happen next – at a political and
inspiration sessions
infrastructural level – to accelerate the
UK’s transition to an economy free of
single-use-plastic.
Discussion points:
Thursday 16th January 2020 (13:00-16:00) • Plastic waste legislation: Bridging
the gaps
• Increasing collaboration across the
entire value chain
Brought to you during edie’s Mission Possible Plastics Week • Recycling infrastructure:
2020, the Business Leadership Inspiration Sessions offer up an Overcoming key challenges
afternoon of three live, interactive webinar presentations and
discussions – all dedicated to helping businesses collaborate, Chair:
innovate and actuate to eliminate single- use plastics. Matt Mace, Content Editor, edie
Sponsor:
This exclusive online event, sponsored by PHS Group and Nestlé
Reconomy, is being hosted by the edie editorial team on the Speakers
afternoon of Thursday 16 January 2020. Registrants will gain Fiona Ball, Group Head of Inspirational
access to three live and interactive webinar sessions: a Q&A Business & Sky Ocean Rescue, Sky
debate (1pm–1.45pm); a selection of best-practice case studies Anna Turrell, Head of Sustainability,
(2pm–3pm); and a 45-minute masterclass (3.15pm–4pm). Nestlé UK & Ireland
Adam Hall, Head of Sustainability,
Surfdome
Registrants can choose to tune into one, two or all three
webinar sessions on the day – and the full collection of
sessions will be made available for all registrants to watch on-
demand afterwards. REGISTER FOR THE ONLINE EVENT HERE
Session 2 – 14:00-15:00
The Plastic-Free Power Hour:
Best-Practice Business Case
Studies
Synopsis:
The second of our Inspiration Sessions
offers up a series of quick-fire case
studies, hearing from some of the
businesses that are leading the fight
against single-use plastics in their
operations and across the supply chain.
Discussion points:
• Innovation and collaboration: From
buzzwords to reality
• Closing the loop in your supply
chain
• Avoiding ‘unintended consequences’
of plastic bans
Chair:
James Evison, Insight Editor, edie
Sponsor:
PHS Group
Speakers
Rebecca Cranshaw, Sustainability
Manager, Eurostar
Marielle Pantin, sustainability manager
and Andy Haigh, senior sustainability
manager, Canary Wharf Group
Brett Fleming-Jones, head of marketing,
phs Group
22
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Session 3 – 15:15-16:00
45-Minute Masterclass:
Eliminating Single-Use Plastic
through Behaviour Change
Synopsis:
It is arguably the most important piece of
the plastics puzzle for sustainability and
environment managers: driving engagement
and changing behaviours to minimise waste
and scale-up alternatives. edie’s third and
final Inspiration Session will show you how to
do just that.
Discussion points:
• Two keynote-style PowerPoint
presentations (10 mins each)
• Live audience Q&A (20 minutes)
• Guest speaker (representing
audience) to join Q&A
Chair:
Sarah George, Reporter, edie
Sponsor:
Reconomy
Speakers
Rose Tehan, Research and Innovation
Development Manager, Keep Britain Tidy
Nathan Gray, Head of sustainability,
Reconomy