Consultants have collaborated on a sequence of suggestions which calls on Authorities to take the initiative on discovering options to the plastics downside.
Their suggestions have been printed on 18 March in a Coverage Fee report, “The Sustainable Plastics Coverage Fee: Key findings for the UK authorities”, launched on the Homes of Parliament by Fee Chair, Baroness Molly Meacher.
Talking on the launch, Baroness Meacher mentioned: “Plastics are an necessary useful resource that we can not merely dispense with, however we should tackle the results of plastic air pollution. Our Authorities is completely key to making sure that we are able to retain the worth of plastics and lengthen their life by adjustments to the making and administration of those merchandise.”
The suggestions contained inside the report embody revalorising plastic ‘waste’ to help inexperienced development and incentivise the emergence of subsequent era plastics manufacturing and recycling applied sciences. The report additionally reveals that there’s a vital alternative for the UK to spend money on chemical recycling to fulfill the demand for round merchandise, producing new job alternatives, and holding plastic within the financial system for longer.
Different suggestions included:
- Harnessing tax methods to advertise sustainable selections and create a ‘demand’ pull for sustainable choices.
- Setting targets and incentives to scale back waste incineration and landfilling
- Making certain nearer regulation of compostable and biodegradable plastics, together with stronger oversight of promoting claims
- Encouraging finest practices in public sector procurement, together with protocols on plastics life cycle assessments.
- Incentives for waste administration our bodies to recirculate plastics, fostering the expansion of recent manufacturing and recycling applied sciences.
- Funding in strong proof on the human and environmental harms brought on by plastics
- Institution of a nationwide sustainable plastics innovation analysis centre to drive innovation and encourage long-term, bold considering.
Professor Fern Elsdon-Baker, Director of the Institute for STEMM in Tradition and Society on the College of Birmingham, mentioned: “Our analysis reveals that plastic air pollution is among the many most important considerations to the general public. We want our policymakers to mirror that concern of their decision-making and guarantee we don’t lag behind different EU nations in areas corresponding to taxation on non-recycled, single-use plastics, and in figuring out and proscribing key hazardous chemical substances.”
Andrew Dove, Professor of Sustainable Polymer Chemistry on the College of Birmingham, mentioned: “Our report reveals the place progress is being made: the UK’s plastic packaging tax, launched in 2022, for instance, targets plastic packaging with lower than 30 per cent recycled plastic, and the Authorities is because of implement an Prolonged Producer Accountability scheme later this 12 months. We have to construct on this momentum and reap the benefits of the most effective examples set by different nations, in addition to the analysis and innovation out there throughout academia and trade.”
Baroness Meacher added: “We should now take steps to implement options which improve our financial system, shield our folks and surroundings, and place the UK as leaders in plastics administration.”
