UK – A survey commissioned by compostable packaging provider TIPA has revealed that most adults in the UK support replacing plastic packaging with compostable alternatives.
Conducted by YouGov, the survey involved 1,734 UK adults and was carried out online from 15 to 16 November.
The data show that 85% of respondents would back a ban on conventional plastic packaging if compostable solutions are available, while 89% called on local councils to collect all recyclable or compostable packaging from households.
The survey also showed that more than 60% of people across the UK are concerned about the increase of plastic waste in their daily life.
TIPA co-founder and CEO Daphna Nissenbaum said: “It is encouraging to see such public support for compostables, but without government investment and the appropriate policy frameworks, the required collection infrastructure is unlikely to be in place to respond to overwhelming consumer appetite to mainstream compostable packaging.
“A few weeks ago, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee concluded that (the) government should reinvest any income raised from Extended Producer Responsibility fees and the Plastic Packaging Tax into recycling infrastructure.”
In addition to improving collection services, the survey also canvassed views on a range of other policy interventions to support tackling plastic waste.
When asked whether they felt Government, brands and retailers were making as much effort as possible (with 0 being the least and 10 being the most) to reduce plastic waste, the survey showed that over half of the public think the Government, brands and retailers are not doing enough to tackle plastic waste.
Brands and retailers were deemed to be doing slightly more than the Government to reduce plastic waste with 44% rating the Government’s achievements as 5 or above, compared to 49% for brands and retailers.
The UK government aims to make all plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025 and recycle or compost 70% of plastic packaging in this timeframe.
“If the government is committed to achieving its plastic reduction targets by 2025, it should consider supporting the development and growth of the compostables industry – or risk handing the advantage to polluting conventional plastic,” added Nissenbaum.
In September this year, a group of five Ph.D. students from the University of Portsmouth secured funding to study the problem of marine pollution caused by plastic packaging.
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