Why is single-use plastic a problem? Plastic pollution is a worldwide issue, with single-use plastics at the forefront. Single-use plastics are a problem due to their mass consumption, incorrect disposal and long lifecycle – ushered by the global disposables culture. From supermarkets, such as Morrisons replacing its plastic bags with paper alternatives to major UK festivals, such as Glastonbury banning the sale of plastic bottles and others trialling plastic bottle deposit return schemes,...

UK not-for-profit company On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) has launched a review of its labelling rules to bring them in line with its progress in collection services and to start to take account of recycling infrastructure. The labelling rules review is governed by a steering group comprised of a wide selection of recycling industry experts from OPRL, WRAP, Nestle and Co-op, BPF, RECOUP, ACE UK, Suez, CIWM, Ecosurety, LARAC and CPI. The group aims to recommend any changes to the OPRL board by...

Amazon packaging waste: Current plans On its website, Amazon states its packaging mission is to optimise the overall customer experience by collaborating with manufacturers worldwide to invent sustainable packaging that delights customers, eliminates waste and ensures products arrive intact and undamaged. In 2008, Amazon launched Frustration-Free Packaging – a programme designed to reduce waste, lower cost and provide customers with 100% recyclable, easy-to-open packaging. The...

Made using plant-based or fossil fuel materials, compostable packaging has the benefit that its end-of-life disposal is environmentally friendly, providing the earth with nutrients once it is fully broken down. However, regardless of its benefits, all compostable packaging is required to be tested for disintegration, biodegradation and non-toxic impact, and disposed of correctly. With such packaging also certified by independent third parties and a compostable logo added on, why is this...

The Indonesian island of Bali has won its single-use plastic ban lawsuit after an overruling by the Supreme Court, according to a report by The Jakarta Post. The lawsuit challenged the local administration’s Gubernatorial Regulation (Pergub) No. 97/2018 limit on plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam. The verdict read: “An extraordinary policy to limit single-use plastic is urgently needed to address the plastic waste crisis.” When it came into effect on 2 July, the law was praised by...