MPs and academics call for circular economy through compostables

A group of MPs and academics have written to The Guardian to put forward their support for compostable packaging.

The letter notes the potential vital role compostable plastics could have in the near future.

The letter said: “Binding targets to reduce plastic pollution outlined in the anticipated environment bill are a critical first step in making Britain a global leader. However, there remains an area that must be addressed urgently if we are to move to a truly circular economy.”

“Film and flexible packaging amount to around 400,000 tonnes of plastic used in the UK per year, comprising 25 per cent of all plastic packaging. However, just four per cent is currently recycled and the new recycling strategy does not adequately address this challenge.”

“These materials are extremely difficult to collect and process. Moreover, they often contain food, which makes them impossible to recycle in the plastic waste stream.”

“Compostable packaging provides a smart solution for this problem. These materials shift away from the inefficient mechanical recycling stream, into a nature-based solution that can be returned safely to the earth.”

“By 2023, the UK may have the capacity for nationwide collection of compostable packaging along with organic waste. Therefore, with sufficient education and the right waste management infrastructure, compostable materials could replace a useful proportion of the non-recyclable conventional flexible plastic.”

“Solutions to address the challenge of flexible packaging have already been demonstrated in France and Italy. Compostable packaging must play an integral role if we are to create a true circular economy and meet our commitments on plastic packaging. We therefore support ambitious targets for moving away from conventional plastics towards compostable solutions.”