2023 Plastic Ban - How Can Hospitality Businesses Prepare?

By Nathan Gray, Head of Sustainability at Reconomy (www.reconomy.com)

The subject of plastic pollution has become a hot topic over the last five years in the wake of David Attenborough’s Blue Planet BBC series

The hospitality industr y is a significant contributor to this problem, and with predictions that there will be as much plastic pollution as fish in our oceans by 2050 action needs to be taken

According to government estimates consumers in England use 2 7 billion items of single use cutler y per year, with only 10% of these recycled

This has a devastating effect on the environment and wildlife

To help reduce the pollution caused by these materials, the government has recently announced that a wide range of single-use plastics will be banned in England from October 2023

Plastic bowls, cutler y, balloon sticks, plates and trays will be banned, alongside types of polystyrene food containers and cups Consumers can no longer buy these products from businesses such as takeaways and retailers

With wide-ranging repercussions for the hospitality industr y, we share our thoughts on what this means and how businesses can embrace waste reduction and recyclability

IS THIS A GOOD IDEA?

While the government’s decision should be welcomed, it is impor tant to remember that the new products selected should be more sustainable than the single use plastics they are replacing If disposed of correctly, some single-use plastics are recyclable , yet issues arise when large quantities of these materials are littered

Businesses should ensure that they are not just switching to another single use alternative which isn t much better than plastic Ensure that you are not opting for materials with ver y few recycling options and infrastructure available For example , compostable products may degrade quicker than plastics but this is pointless unless these can be segregated from other waste streams These will likely end up in landfill, producing methane or carbon dioxide

So, what can businesses do to maximise the environmental benefits of their switch from single-use plastics?

Conduct A Plastic Audit

One of the first things businesses should do is to identify ever y piece of plastic used during their operations The goal should be to calculate the total plastic weight used as well as the different types of plastic Itemise each material so you get a complete over view of your operations Your audit should be separated into plastic items sent to waste , and those which will be recycled

Calculating the true impact of your enterprise upon the planet can be a compelling motivator to adopt more sustainable practices which can then be communicated across your workforce

REDUCE YOUR USAGE

A plastic audit should help you establish which single-use items you used in the largest quantities Tackle these first by tr ying to source more sustainable alternatives

This could involve a conversation with your suppliers to source easily recyclable materials It is best to take advice on what products are the most sustainable , in terms of recyclability, production and circularity cre- dentials Wood cutler y, though more expensive , may be a better alternative as it is 100% renewable and contributes no plastic waste

Consider Reusable Alternatives

If possible , tr y to promote products that are reusable such as steel cutler y, plastic tableware and ceramic plates Of course , this will be easier in closed environments such as offices, canteens and restaurants This is harder to achieve in an open street food or takeaway environment but could be tempered with a deposit scheme

Music venues such as Glasgow’s OVO Hydro operate a £1 deposit scheme with ever y drink they sell – the £1 is refunded at the end of the evening upon return of the cup, which can be reused up to 300 times

Recycle And Repurpose

Businesses should also look to extend the life cycle of their plastic products through recycling and reuse

The cyclical nature of this process allows materials to be reused again in your manufacturing or operational procedures and doesn’t consign plastics immediately to landfill or ocean waste as in linear methods

For any on-site waste ensure that you have dedicated recycling bins available You should also brief your employees accordingly on which materials go where and the benefits of following this

One novel recycling incentive is the reverse vending machine which will collect plastic items in return for a monetar y award This could be a voucher or even a charitable donation

Sources

Far-reac hing ban on single-use plastics n England - GOV UK (www gov uk) https://www ovohydro com/visitor-information/stac k-cups https://www thebubble org uk/lifestyle/travel/the-hospitality-industr ys-over-relianceon-single-use-p astic/

Plastic Rec yc ing | Singlye- Use Plastics | Reconomy | Waste Management Rever se Vending - Reconomy