Plastic

An example of a KeyKeg
New recycling scheme for single-use plastic beer kegs

Most of the time when you head down to the pub on a Friday night, you won’t be thinking about the waste that’s produced from your pint. But the storage of beer in plastic kegs can create problems, with thousands of them ending up in general waste instead of recycling every year.

Ecosurety and Danone partnership to increase UK recycling investment
Ecosurety and Danone partnership to increase UK recycling investment

Global food and beverage company Danone has announced a three-year partnership with Ecosurety that will see the compliance scheme manage its packaging and waste recycling obligations in the UK.

Hubbub’s plastic fishing boats go on tour

Environmental behaviour change charity Hubbub is extending its ‘plastic fishing’ project with funding from Starbucks to collect plastic and litter from waterways around the UK. 

Bioeconomy Strategy aims to make UK world-leader by 2030
Bioeconomy Strategy aims to make UK world-leader by 2030
By
Rob Cole
| 7 December 2018 |
The UK Government has released its Bioeconomy Strategy, which outlines how the UK can build a world-class bioeconomy by 2030 and lead the way in easing the reliance on fossil resources.
Unilever invests in plastic-free laundry tablet
Unilever invests in plastic-free laundry tablet
By
Kate Nicholson
| 6 December 2018 |
Unilever intends to clean up the laundry industry by investing in a plant-derived washing tablet to replace plastic coated sachets.
‘World’s most sustainable straw’ in development
‘World’s most sustainable straw’ in development
By
Kate Nicholson
| 5 December 2018 |
A new design has been put forward for a renewable and biodegradable straw to replace traditional plastic straws often found amongst marine pollution.
New recycling scheme for pet food packaging
New recycling scheme for pet food packaging
By
Kate Dickinson
| 30 November 2018 |
TerraCycle has launched a recycling scheme for pet food pouches and flexible packaging.
Costa to package new ‘smart cup’ in recycled coffee cups
Costa to package new ‘smart cup’ in recycled coffee cups
By
Rob Cole
| 29 November 2018 |
Costa Coffee has launched a new reusable coffee cup that enables contactless payments and comes in packaging made from recycled coffee cups.
Veolia opens up funding for Merseyside waste and recycling projects
Veolia opens up funding for Merseyside waste and recycling projects
By
Kate Nicholson
| 27 November 2018 |
A share of £115,000 from Veolia’s latest Community Fund is available for local community groups in Merseyside and Halton looking to prevent waste and improve recycling.
Valpak: Collaboration is key to achieving plastics targets
Valpak: Collaboration is key to achieving plastics targets
By
Kate Nicholson
| 22 November 2018 |
Compliance scheme Valpak, the data partner for the UK Plastics Pact, has called for collaboration and innovation among signatories to help achieve the Pact’s targets.
Introduce levies on raw materials to boost secondary material markets, says Eunomia
Introduce levies on raw materials to boost secondary material markets, says Eunomia
By Resource |
21 November 2018 |
A new report by Eunomia proposes a system of levies and rebates to cut down on the use of raw materials in manufacturing and incentivise those producers that use more recycled materials.
Entries for European plastics group innovation awards open
Entries for European plastics group innovation awards open
By Resource |
20 November 2018 |
The European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations (EPRO) is inviting companies across Europe to enter their products for the EPRO Best Recycled Plastic Product Innovation and Sustainability Awards.
Recycling Technologies to expand plastic recycling capacity with new facility
Recycling Technologies to expand plastic recycling capacity with new facility
By
Kate Dickinson
| 19 November 2018 |
Plastic waste reprocessor Recycling Technologies has formally opened its new facility in Swindon, which it says will triple Europe’s waste plastic recycling capacity.
Government review calls for new fines for mislabelling of waste
Government review calls for new fines for mislabelling of waste
By
Rob Cole
| 16 November 2018 |
The Environment Agency should be given the power to impose new fines on waste operators that deliberately mislabel their waste to avoid tax rules, according to an independent review ordered by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.
WasteAid wins funding for plastics recycling project in The Gambia
WasteAid wins funding for plastics recycling project in The Gambia
By
Kate Dickinson
| 16 November 2018 |
Waste management charity WasteAid UK will run a two-year plastic recycling project in The Gambia with government funding from UK Aid Direct.
UK Plastics Pact launches Roadmap to 2025 targets
UK Plastics Pact launches Roadmap to 2025 targets
By
Kate Dickinson
| 15 November 2018 |
The UK Plastics Pact has published its Roadmap to 2025, a document setting out how Pact members can achieve its ambitious targets to reduce plastic packaging waste.
Shelter for refugees built entirely from recycled plastic
Emergency shelter built entirely from recycled plastic
By
Kate Nicholson
| 13 November 2018 |
Ocean plastics initiative Waste Free Oceans has unveiled the first emergency shelter made from recycled plastic retrieved from the river Po in Italy.
Certification for UK company converting waste plastics to hydrogen
Certification for UK company converting waste plastics to hydrogen
By
Rob Cole
| 9 November 2018 |
PowerHouse Energy, a UK company pioneering hydrogen production from waste plastic and used tyres, has been certified by an independent technical assurance organisation.
Coral’s new plant ready for January after investment boost
Coral’s new plant ready for January after investment boost
By
Coral Products
| 9 November 2018 |
Coral Products (Mouldings) Ltd’s new in-house recycling plant, based at its site in Haydock,Merseyside, will be fully operational in January 2019, following a recent investment boost.
London supermarket launches plastic-free zones
London supermarket launches plastic-free zones
By
Rob Cole
| 8 November 2018 |
Thornton’s Budgens in Camden has introduced plastic-free zones with more than 1,700 products free from plastic packaging.
Gove raids 400 staff from environment bodies for Defra Brexit preparations
Gove raids 400 staff from environment bodies for Defra Brexit preparations
By
Rob Cole
| 8 November 2018 |
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has been accused of having “raided” 400 staff from state environment bodies in order to plug gaps in Defra’s workforce in preparation for Brexit.
Princes recycles all obligated packaging for 2018 in UK
Princes recycles all obligated packaging for 2018 in UK
By
Kate Dickinson
| 6 November 2018 |
Food and drink company Princes has announced that all of its required packaging recycling for 2018 has taken place in the UK, meaning the company has invested over £750,000 in domestic infrastructure.
M&S launches eco-bag to tackle poverty and plastic waste
M&S launches eco-bag to tackle poverty and plastic waste
By
Kate Nicholson
| 6 November 2018 |
Marks & Spencer has introduced a new eco-shopping bag that tackles several global issues by simultaneously reducing plastic waste and poverty.