Many businesses still unaware of Plastic Packaging Tax

A new report has found that as many as 77% of UK retail and manufacturing firms are still unaware of the new Plastic Packaging Tax.

It came into force on the 1st of April and places a £200 per tonne levy on producers or importers of plastic packaging if they don’t include 30% recycled content.

Research, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Veolia, found that just 22% of the manufacturing and retail businesses surveyed have already opted for recycled content in their packaging.

The survey revealed that for those who already made changes:

• 66% have reduced the amount of unnecessary or avoidable plastic packaging
• 58% now use recycled content
• 54% have changed the packaging design to make it more recyclable
• 39% have chosen alternative materials to plastic for their packaging

Veolia Northern Europe Zone Senior Executive Vice President, Gavin Graveson, said, “The UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax is the right way to start getting businesses to push sustainability up the agenda, but it needs to go further. A tax escalator would make choosing to incorporate recycled content in packaging both economically and environmentally preferable to using virgin materials.

“Not only could the UK save up to 2.89 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year if all plastic packaging included 30% recycled content, it would also incentivise investment in domestic infrastructure which could make the UK a world leader in plastics recycling.”

To find out more about contracting please contact Jaime on 01442 795 100 or email jaime.thorpe@dolanaccountancy.com.