GLOBAL IMPACT OF PACKAGING TRENDS

THE IMPACT OF PACKAGING TRENDS

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Intense focus has been brought to bear on the use of packaging in retail and manufacturing, particularly single-use plastics. With public awareness on this topic increasing rapidly, it was raised further by David Attenborough’s pleas on the final episode of the BBC’s Blue Planet II documentary series on 10th December 2017.

It will have come as no surprise to companies operating in manufacturing, distribution and retail, that public opinion has intensified on the ethical sourcing and recycling of products. For many years, organisations have been working to make their products more environmentally friendly and to reduce the amount of waste produced. However, the pace at which this is progressing needs to improve for the long-term health of the planet.

WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON PLASTICSFrom the extensive research that Plastic Oceans has undertaken, it has identified that more than eight million tonnes of plastic is thrown away each year and washed out to sea [1]. As plastic never completely biodegrades, it takes decades for photodegredation to take place. This is a process in which plastic is broken down by UV light into microplastics, causing further pollution to the marine environment as harmful toxins are released into the ocean.

DROWNING IN PLASTIC

During the last 20 years the use of plastic packaging, which has only existed for the last 60 years, has increased dramatically in supermarkets and other retail operations. In 2014 alone, manufacturers produced over 311 million tonnes of plastic, and it is only increasing according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation report, “The New Plastics Economy, Rethinking the Future of Plastics” [2]. The report details that, over the next 30 years, annual production of plastics is predicted to soar to a staggering 1.8 billion tonnes. At this rate, plastic in the ocean will weigh more than all the fish by 2050.

With China’s recent ban on imports of foreign waste, it is more important than ever that the UK looks for not only new and innovative recycling solutions, but also alternative packaging solutions that can provide a more environmentally friendly substitution.

PLASTICS IN THE FOOD CHAIN

Plastics and microplastics (less than 5mm in diameter) are commonly being mistaken as food and ingested by all kinds of marine creatures. From turtles mistaking plastic bags for jelly fish, to zooplankton feeding on tiny plastic particles, sea creatures are being harmed, or in many instances killed. It is inevitable that small bits of plastic getting into the ocean food chain

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THE IMPACT OF PACKAGING TRENDS

“MORE THAN EIGHT MILLION TONNES OF PLASTIC IS THROWN AWAY EACH YEAR AND WASHED OUT TO SEA.”

GLOBAL IMPACT OF PACKAGING TRENDS

will eventually be eaten by humans. Scientists at Ghent University in Belgium recently calculated that shellfish lovers are eating up to 11,000 plastic fragments in their seafood each year [3].

CONVENIENCE IS KILLING THE ENVIRONMENT

Put simply, plastic has been used in packaging for its convenience, versatility and low production costs. Food manufacturers over the years have opted for plastic over glass, tin or cardboard because it is lightweight and strong, making it suitable for transport and storage.

The increasing adoption of plastic over glass and metal for drinks has contributed to the global problem too, with one million plastic bottles being bought every minute [4]. Highlighted by Euromonitor’s Global Packaging report, the number of plastic bottles sold globally has gone from approximately 300 billion a decade ago to more than 480 billion in 2016 [5].

Although the vast majority of plastic bottles are made from highly recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET), less than half of them are collected for recycling and only 7% of those are

recycled [6]. The rest ends up in landfill or in the ocean, which then takes hundreds of years to break down, whilst causing catastrophic impact to the environment.

SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

Single-use plastics, or disposable plastics, are used only once before they are disposed of or recycled. Plastic drinks straws are a perfect example of a popular consumer product that has been produced en masse for decades. In fact, in the US alone, over 500 million are used every day [7]. Plastic straws are usually only used once before being thrown away, taking decades to decompose. Food retailers are now being urged to make the swap from plastic to a more environmentally friendly alternative, such as paper, silicone or bamboo. In February 2018, Josh Gabbatiss, Science Correspondent for the Independent, reported that Scotland is set to become the first UK nation to ban plastic straws as part of plans to cut down on single-use plastics [8]

“PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN WILL WEIGH MORE THAN ALL THE

FISH BY 2050.”

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HEALTH DANGERS

Despite being widely recyclable, many bottles and cans also use a Bisphenol A (BPA) lining to prevent liquids directly contacting the material of the container. BPA is increasingly being cited as a contributing factor to cancer, diabetes and obesity and bans are being called for by charities, such as Breast Cancer UK [9]. However, the UK Food Standards Agency, the body responsible for food safety in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, currently does not agree that ingesting BPA represents a significant risk in the small quantities that might arise from the day-to-day use of food and drink containers [10].

Findings from the research conducted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suggest that there is further concern around the use of phthalates, a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break [11]. The CDC explores this further, highlighting that phthalates, also known as “plasticisers”, are used in the manufacturing of thousands of different products and are found in a vast range of household items, including personal care products, children’s toys, food packaging and raincoats, to name but a few.

Like BPA, some phthalates are classed as endocrine disruptors, meaning that they can mimic the body’s naturally produced hormones and cause a variety of health issues. Although greater scientific research into the effects of being exposed to BPA and phthalates is required, consumers are recommended

to look for products and packaging that are phthalate and BPA free.

SOLUTIONS

THE FIRST STEP TO REDUCING WASTE

A key mantra for environmentalists is “reduce, reuse, recycle” - in that order. It is expected that future environmentally friendly organisations will make significant changes to the way that they produce and use packaging, driven by the fundamental need to decrease the amount of waste polluting the ocean. For manufacturers and supply chains, the first step is to reduce the amount of packaging being used, whether it is made from recyclable materials or not. To underpin greater levels of sustainability and reduce costs, it is essential that companies examine product life cycles, packaging and processes to identify where they can minimise the wastage of raw materials. Moving beyond the benefits of reducing wastage and recycling costs, lean manufacturing can lead to further efficiencies in energy consumption, labour costs and transportation.

With the popularity of café culture growing in the UK, awareness has intensified around the issues of polyethylene-lined coffee cups. Highlighted in the House of Common’s report into disposable packaging, it is estimated that 3.75 billion disposable cups will be sent to waste each year by 2025 [12]. The report further explains that only 1% of disposable cups are currently recycled, leading to an increasing number of people calling in

“BY 2050, 12 BILLION TONNES OF PLASTIC WILL

BE THROWN AWAY EACH YEAR.

THAT’S 35,000 TIMES AS HEAVY AS THE EMPIRE

STATE BUILDING.”

“BPA IS INCREASINGLY BEING CITED AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO CANCER, DIABETES AND OBESITY.”

CANCER DIABETES OBESITY

GLOBAL IMPACT OF PACKAGING TRENDS

favour of a 25p “latte levy” to change consumer behaviour.

Educating and incentivising consumers has become a key driver for reducing waste, particularly in coffee shops. As demonstrated in 2016 by high street giants Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Café Nero, discounts of up to 50p per coffee and additional loyalty stamps were offered to consumers bringing in their own drinks containers [13].

Atalian Servest’s own coffee brand, Groundhouse, which serves drinks to colleagues and visitors at sites managed for customers, also offers a discount to those who bring their own cups. It is not just about food and drinks containers, though. Across the board, Atalian Servest cleaning teams are also encouraged to identify cleaning products that can be decanted into reusable containers rather than replacing them every time they run out, such as hand wash in washrooms.

REUSABLE RESOURCES

Reusable packaging has long been an attractive option for organisations looking to lower their carbon footprint. Charges on carrier bags around the UK and Eire have drastically reduced the number of plastic bags in the system. In the first year after levies were introduced, the BBC revealed there were reductions in bag use of 76% in Wales, 71% in Northern Ireland and 80% in Scotland respectively as people changed their behaviour and reused carrier bags [14].

For supply chains and manufacturers, introducing a “circular economy” where resources are kept in use as long as possible is a crucial step to improving operational efficiency and becoming more sustainable. The traditional process of make, use and dispose has for far too long been unchallenged.

Quantifying the benefits of any sustainability initiative will allow organisations to make informed decisions based on reliable data. Measuring the comparative lifecycle of re-usable and single-use products will highlight the environmental impact and cost implications of failing to modernise manufacturing processes.

THE PLAN TO TACKLE PLASTIC RECYCLING

Much of the plastic in circulation today is recyclable, however the extent to which they are recycled depends upon several technical and logistical factors.

£1.50 £2

“DISCOUNTS OF 50P ARE OFFERED TO CONSUMERS BRINGING IN THEIR OWN DRINKS CONTAINERS.”

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With over 50 different types of plastic in use, processing plastic for recycling can be more challenging than other materials.

In the Government’s 2016 budget, the UK was set a plastic packaging recycling target of 57% by 2020. The British Plastics Federation and Plastics Europe, with support of Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has implemented the Plastics Industry Recycling Action Plan (PIRAP) to help achieve this target [15]. The industry action plan outlines key initiatives to improve recycling of plastics, including plans to increase collections, improve sorting and develop end markets for recycled plastics.

According to WRAP’s 2016 Plastics Market Situation Report, the largest source of plastic packaging came from the grocery retail sector, accounting for almost 1 million tonnes (or 43%) of plastic packaging arising in 2014 [16]. It is clear that although consumers are more informed about the dangers of pollution than ever before, very few people know the resin identification coding system used on plastics well enough to know if a bottle or food tray can be placed in the recycling bin or not. Today’s throwaway culture has led to a significant amount of waste being incorrectly recycled, something which PIRAP looks to address as part of their future strategy.

DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEMES

The UK is currently discussing the potential of introducing a bottle Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), to put the onus for disposing of packaging back on the company that produced it. Co-op and Iceland have recently become the first supermarkets to vote in favour of a DRS to tackle the effects of plastic pollution. Although other leading retailers have yet to openly back the scheme, the DRS system has proved successful in other European countries. In Germany and Denmark, 90% of bottles are returned and recycled because of DRS schemes. In comparison, England only recycles 57% of plastic bottles according to recent statistics [17].

Some environmentalists advocate more steps, particularly one at the beginning of the mantra - ‘refuse’. This is an indication of growing public awareness and that consumers will refuse to accept products that come in packaging that they consider ‘wasteful’. Although human nature means that most consumers will vote with their wallets rather than their consciences, Iceland has recently announced a five year plan to eliminate

“THE UK WAS SET A PLASTIC PACKAGING RECYCLING TARGET OF 57% BY 2020.”

GLOBAL IMPACT OF PACKAGING TRENDS

plastics from its own brand products and it is likely that other supermarkets will follow suit if Iceland’s plans start to attract more customers.

NEW LEGISLATION

Paving the way for a more sustainable future, in January 2018 the UK government published a new 25 year environment plan to tackle the imminent threat of plastic pollution, among other environmental concerns. Though concerns were raised over the Government’s ambition and urgency to tackle the issue, positive steps have been taken with the recent introduction of legislation to ban microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. These tiny pieces of plastic have been frequently used in household products, such as shower gels, body scrubs and tooth paste. The new legislation that has banned the manufacturing of these harmful beads will help prevent billions

of microbeads polluting the ocean every year. Many are now calling for the government to introduce further legislations and to rise to the challenge of making Britain a global leader in environmental protection.

HOW ATALIAN SERVEST IS TACKLING THE WASTE PROBLEM

CATERING SOLUTIONS

Atalian Servest has been involved in a number of initiatives that tackle the problem of wasting food itself, let alone the packaging. According to WRAP, food and drink waste in the UK food sector and in homes totals £17 billion per year, and is associated with approximately 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions [18]. Angel Hill Food Co., part of the Atalian Servest Group, has been working closely with Olio, a food sharing app. The app

AVERAGE UK HOUSEHOLD USES 480 PLASTIC BOTTLES PER YEAR

ONLY 27% ARE RECYCLED

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connects people in local communities with local cafes, shops and each other to offer surplus food to be used instead of being thrown away. During a successful trial in Cambridge, over 1,500 items were saved from landfill, equating to nearly 700 meals [19]. It’s an excellent example of Atalian Servest’s commitment to technological applications that can achieve something new and better for the environment.

Properly filtered and processed, used cooking oil can also be used for diesel engines or as a biofuel to run generators or boilers. By giving 80,000 litres of cooking oil to a registered company that can carry out the conversion instead of throwing it away, Atalian Servest has achieved a carbon saving of 136 tonnes in 2017 - the same as taking 657 family cars off the road.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

An important step in raising the proportion of waste that is recycled is separating waste at the source. Atalian Servest has partnered with New Star who invest in recycling facilities, ensuring Atalian Servest’s colleagues and customers, dispose of waste efficiently. By the end of 2017, working alongside New Star, Atalian Servest was able to successfully recycle 1,702 tonnes of waste.

Atalian Servest customers not only improve environmental impact, but can also benefit from an additional revenue stream from recycling efforts. By recycling plastic, as well as cardboard and metal, Atalian Servest brought over £700k back into a customer’s business in 2017.

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION As the UK strives to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly, organisations must commit to embracing new packaging solutions, processes and policies that lower the carbon footprint of its operations.

Atalian Servest has made that commitment, and is supporting its customers to do the same.

Key areas in which Atalian Servest is working with customers to lower their carbon footprint, include:

✓ Assessing packaging to see where the amount used can be reduced, weight lowered or less environmentally damaging alternatives substituted

✓ Ensuring the necessary processes and facilities required to recycle and reuse materials are in place

✓ Examining packaging suppliers and choosing those that can at least offer sustainable materials, preferably those that are using recycled content in their manufacturing, too

✓ Utilising technology to change processes and remove sources of environmentally damaging materials

✓ Considering internal legislative changes and proactively implementing solutions to benefit the environment

✓ Educating colleagues and consumers to support new environmental processes.

CONCLUSION

Steps are being taken by both companies and consumers to reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment. However, more needs to be done in the future to ensure there isn’t a lasting impact on the planet for generations to come.

GLOBAL IMPACT OF PACKAGING TRENDS

[1] Plasticoceans.org. (2017). The Facts. [Online] Available at: https://www.plasticoceans.org/the-facts/. (Accessed (February 2018)

[2] Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2016). The New Plastics Economy. Rethinking the Future of Plastics. [Online] Available at: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/EllenMacArthurFoundation_TheNewPlasticsEconomy_Pages.pdf

[3] Theguardian.com. (2017). From Sea to Plate: How Plastic Got Into Our Fish. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/14/sea-to-plate-plastic-got-into-fish

[4] Theguardian.com. (2017). A Million Bottles a Minute. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/28/a-million-a-minute-worlds-plastic-bottle-binge-as-dangerous-as-climate-change

[5] Euromonitor.com. (2017). Global Packaging Market in 2017: Emerging Markets and Pack Size Variation. [Online] Available at: https://blog.euromonitor.com/2017/07/packaging-market-2017.html

[6] Nationalgeographic.com. (2017). A Whopping 91% of Plastic Isn’t Recycled. [Online] Available at: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/

[7] Nationalgeographic.com. (2017). Straw Wars. [Online] Available at: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/04/plastic-straws-ocean-trash-environment/

[8] Theindependentco.uk. (2018). Scotland Plans to Ban Plastic Straws by End of 2019. [Online] Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/scotland-plastic-straw-ban-pollution-2019-cotton-buds-a8206636.html

[9] Breastcanceruk.org. No More BPA. [Online] Available at: http://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/our-campaigns/no-more-bpa/. (Accessed February 2018)

[10] Food.gov.uk. Science and Policy. [Online] Available at: https://www.food.gov.uk/science/bpa. (Accessed February 2018)

[11] CDC.gov. Phthalates Factsheet. [Online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Phthalates_FactSheet.html. (Accessed February 2018)

[12] House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. (2017). [Online] Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/657/657.pdf

[13] Telegraph.co.uk. Consumer Affairs. [Online] (2018). Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/coffee-shops-will-offer-50pc-discount-reusing-cup/

[14] BBC.co.uk. (2016). Plastic Bag Use Plummets in England Since 5p Charge. [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36917174

[17] BPF.co.uk. Plastics Industry Recycling Action Plan. [Online] Available at: http://www.bpf.co.uk/topics/pirap.aspx (Accessed 22nd February 2018)

[16] WRAP.org. (2016). Plastics Market Situation Report. [Online] Available at: http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Plastics_Market_Situation_Report.pdf

[17] Theguardian.com (2017). Plastic Bottle Deposit Return Scheme Could Save England’s Councils £35m a Year. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/11/plastic-bottle-deposit-return-scheme-could-save-englands-councils-35m-a-year

[18] WRAP.org. (2017). Estimates of Food Surplus and waste Arisings in the UK. [Online] Available at: http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Estimates_%20in_the_UK_Jan17.pdf

[19] Angelhillfood.co (2017). Olio – Love Food, Hate Waste. [Online] Available at: https://www.angelhillfood.co/olio-love-food-hate-waste/

SOURCES

0800 614 678 @Servest_UKinfo@servest.co.uk