Packaging, recycling and food waste.

OPINON Packaging, recycling and food waste

Martin Kersh executive director, Foodservice Packaging Association, shares his views.

DOING THE RIGHT THING

There is much debate about food packaging, especially that used for food to go and, driven by lockdown, home delivery, with the latest reports indicating that the nation’s appetite for takeaway is not waning as restrictions ease (BBC News’ Taste for takeaways outlasts Covid lockdowns). Operators want to ‘do the right thing’ and their customers are eager to know if they also ‘do the right thing’ when they dispose of the packaging, their actions will result in a positive outcome, i.e. the material will actually be recycled.

Packaging legislation over the next three to four years will see a packaging plastics tax to encourage greater recycled content - packaging recycling consistency legislation mandating all English local authorities to collect named packaging materials and food waste, and a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and extended producer responsibility (EPR) meaning businesses placing more than 10 tonnes of packaging on the market will be paying for the net cost of the waste management of packaging. This all adds up to an estimated minimum cost of £5 billion per annum to be funded by business. Although your business may use less than 10 tonnes of packaging annually, your supplier will have to pay and will have no option other than to pass the costs on to you. Not to do so will simply put them out of business.

EPR is very likely to bring mandatory takeback of paper cups by all retailers irrespective of size and where purchased, a very exciting development based on a current scheme. Cups are a valuable source of fibres in the recycling system and mandatory retail takeback means more will be collected, litter will be reduced and those buying from the high street chains will be coming through your doors.

PACKAGING OPTIONS

It’s really tempting for sandwich shop operators and take-away services to opt for packaging that meets the customer’s desire for a better environment. Some packaging is claiming to be plastic free or biodegradable while compostables are increasingly used by independent operators. But the caterer must consider the reality of endof-life options for these products before making an informed choice.

Compostables are excellent if you can collect and capture the used packaging and ensure that it goes to commercial composting facilities. Closed-loop environments where packaging isn’t taken out of the premises or estate works particularly well for compostables. However, if your customers are walking out of the premises and simply putting the item in the bin or the recycling bin or worse still, littering them, then composting will not happen. Composting only happens in industrial composting facilities. If compostables are put in the recycling bin they can cause contamination of the waste stream.

No packaging should be described as biodegradable as, unlike for compostables, there is no certification to prove biodegradability takes place in a required timescale and the conditions for it to do so. The name implies the items can be discarded and, because they will breakdown in the environment, can encourage litter so the term biodegradable is disliked by litter charities. There are even some promoting so called biodegradables because they claim they are better in litter. This is completely irresponsible and a piece of packaging that breaks down into smaller pieces makes it easier for animal life to consume.

The FPA calls for the word biodegradable to be banned from use on packaging and we urge operators not to be tempted by the word biodegradable – it simply doesn’t exist and sales people pushing biodegrability over composting neglect to tell you biodegration takes place as part of the composting process.

Some packaging is described as ‘plastic free’ and again we’d advise caution as very frequently the claim is made for the materials rather than the finished packaging which has undergone further processing. Many so-called water-based coatings still use plastic such as acrylic as without it the coating would fail to adhere. ‘Some plastic’ does not mean ‘no plastic’ and promoting it in this way is exploiting your desire to do the right thing.

We’d advise managers to choose packaging for food to go and takeaway items that in all cases can be widely recycled. Much plastic is widely recycled and almost universally collected including PET and HDPE which are recycled many times - making sure these items are collected and not sent to landfill is critical to creating a circular economy. The recycling waste management consistency regulations will reduce the confusion amongst the public about what can and can’t be recycled nationally. Operators will therefore know what is recycled and plan accordingly.

NEW GREENWASH GUIDELINES

When looking at options, make sure you ask questions of your supplier to ensure the claims they are making are verifiable and not simply greenwash. Buying from an FPA member, for example, assures you that they abide by the Code of Practice and all claims are substantiated. The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) is introducing new guidelines covering all environmental claims including packaging.

The CMA’s investigation revealed 40% of green claims could be misleading, especially as many products making environmental claims sell at a premium. The CMA will have powers to name and shame and take court action to compel changes in communication and enforce fines totalling 10% of offenders global turnover. This means any attempt to use greenwashing to promote goods could come at a high price. Businesses should be alert to the risks and the increased scrutiny such practices are likely to receive from regulators and consumers. The FPA believes that those who exploit their customers› desire to be seen to be doing the right thing with packaging, which in all reality will make no difference, should be held to account.

PACKAGING AND FOOD WASTE CONTAMINATION

Even if you get the packaging right, there is then the matter of food waste and recycling – to what extent can packaging that is covered in food residue be recycled? The answer is that it makes recycling difficult if the packaging carries food waste, but certainly not impossible. Householders are not all scrupulous about removing food from the packaging they place in their kerbside waste bins but food waste collections should result in cleaner packaging.

Manufacturers are making progress in this area, developing coatings to line the inner faces of the card, such as detachable film in sandwich wedges. These innovations need also to combine the requirement to be readily recyclable so the coating must not prevent this process or make it more difficult.

IN SUMMARY FOR OPERATORS

For operators to ensure that the maximum amount of food packaging they generate is recycled they need to - ensure the packaging is widely recycled. - ensure compostables are used in closed environments and are sent to industrial composting facilities. - not fall for ‘greenwash’ from suppliers including so called biodegrable packaging and always ask for third party evidence to prove all environmental claims are genuine. - in advance of new legislation understand what is and what is not recycled in your local area. - play your part in in reducing food waste – the WRAP website is an excellent source of information. - encourage your customers not to litter.