Reduce excess packaging to tackle UK plastic waste, Antalis Packaging says

Minimising the amount of packaging businesses use is just as important as replacing plastic with recyclable materials, according to specialist, Antalis Packaging.

The announcement comes after prime minister Theresa May set out an ambitious plan to eliminate all of the UK’s avoidable waste within 25 years earlier this month.

About the UK’s plan, May said: “In the UK alone, the amount of single-use plastic wasted every year would fill 1,000 Royal Albert Halls. This plastic is ingested by dozens of species of marine mammals and over 100 species of sea birds, causing immense suffering to individual creatures and degrading vital habitats. 1 million birds, and over 100,000 other sea mammals and turtles die every year from eating and getting tangled in plastic waste. One in three fish caught in the English Channel contains pieces of plastic.

Antalis Packaging states that businesses should also focus on tackling excessive use of packaging to help the UK meet waste targets.   

The announcement has led to a number of major supermarkets and restaurant chains unveiling plans to reduce or remove plastic packaging on products.

Scott Tuckey, product manager at Antalis Packaging, said: “The packaging landscape is a complex one and what often gets overlooked in the debate on waste reduction is that for many small businesses plastic remains the most economically viable option and in some cases has a lower carbon footprint than those considered more environmentally friendly.

“What’s equally important, we’ve found, is the poor or excessive use of plastic materials and packaging as a whole, which if addressed correctly can significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill or in the environment, including plastic.

“With online sales continuing to rise year-on-year, consumers not only expect a hassle-free, seamless and impressive unboxing experience at home, but are increasingly favouring companies who care about the environment.

The company recommends that businesses tailor packaging to fit their products to promote less waste; consider box sizes to reduce the amount of outer packaging and introduce automated box-sizing to cut down warehouse storage.