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SINGLE-USE PLASTIC
BAN?
Producer Responsibility system
As packaging they are currently covered by
the Producer Responsibility system in the
form of Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs)
for businesses above the minimum “The FPA has asked for
packaging threshold. additional time to prevent
In 2025 they will also be covered by stocks from being wasted. We
packaging Extended Producer responsibility feel this is warranted because
(EPR). Therefore, businesses may continue
to buy these items from another business. the guidance was published
much too late”.
So, the placing of a sausage roll, cake, or
sandwich on a plastic plate and placing it in
a cabinet for customers to take will continue
to be allowed. Without this provision salad
bars would not be able to continue, and
because it is difficult to draw a distinction Martin Kersh,
between bowls and trays the ban would FPA Executive Director
impact grocery packaging.
The government’s real intention is to
eliminate plastic plates and bowls as picnic
items, but this isn’t quite made clear in the
final legislation.
Plastic cutlery is to be banned and the ban
covers plant (bio) derived plastic cutlery
items. So compostable plastic cutlery is not
exempted. This also includes board-based
packaging lined with plastic, including
bioplastics. Some of the alternatives are not
liked by customers. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER. 2023 | ISSUE 32
Finally, expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes
and cups are banned, but not polystyrene
lids. The ban of these items is clearly most
problematic and, in some instances, you will
be paying far more for the alternatives, with
no added benefits and sometimes less
functionality.
www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk
