Enval on BBC Radio 5 Live and the new UK Plastics Pact

Yesterday morning Enval was featured on BBC Radio 5 Live during segments in the Breakfast programme discussing the new UK Plastics Pact.

We are delighted with Radio 5 Live’s coverage and that they presented Enval as an example of the kinds of innovative companies that are needed to tackle plastic pollution. As the piece rightly says, we are the only company that can recycle plastic aluminium laminates, materials that already present a recycling need six times bigger, by weight, than that for coffee cups, which have been the focus of considerable public and government attention recently. You can listen to the clip here.

Regarding the UK Plastics Pact, whilst we are pleased with the announcement and encouraged that so many organisations, up and down the plastic supply chain, have decided to join, there are several points that require clarification. For example, what exactly does the Pact mean by “unnecessary and problematic single-use plastic packaging”? Who, and on what basis, will decide what is or isn’t “problematic” and even what constitutes “single-use”? A cursory analysis might suggest that the pouches and tubes that we are treating could fall into those categories. But in fact, they make a very positive environmental impact by saving huge quantities of resources over competitive packaging systems while preserving food and beverages in excellent condition – an impact which is significantly enhanced now that they can be fully recycled using our process. Proper consideration of the issues is required rather than kneejerk decisions.

We would also like to understand how this voluntary arrangement will dovetail with mandatory targets and legislation. Many people in the circular economy world have called for a full reform of the way in which brands and packaging companies take responsibility for the materials that they put into the market with some advocating that proper extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation is the only way forward. We fervently hope that the Environment Secretary doesn’t see the UK Plastics Pact as a substitute for action and an excuse that allows the government to wash their hands of the problem and do nothing for another few years.

Likewise, we would like to urge the signatories of the Pact to ensure that the SMEs that develop new processes and solutions are listened to and supported. We have developed a viable recycling process for laminates and yet the amount of help that we received from companies that ought to be interested in our process and are signatories to the Pact, is practically non-existent. This new Pact and these headline-grabbing announcements will do little for the environment if companies like Enval are not supported by the big companies that have the means and resources to really make a difference. If the UK Plastics Pact wants to achieve something then it is time for them to “put their money where their mouth is”.