• News

Valpak passes the million-mark milestone through new Product Data Hub reporting

Reconomy Group company Valpak, the UK’s largest provider of environmental compliance, has passed a major milestone, as more than one million packaging weight items have been logged through the company’s new Product Data Hub.

“Passing the million-mark milestone in the Valpak Product Data Hub is a huge marker of progress,” said Steve Gough, CEO, Valpak. “As we move towards the implementation of the Plastic Packaging Tax and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging, the need for robust data is becoming more critical. The Product Data Hub was designed to remove errors and simplify the recording process and it is clearly working – the level of engagement we are seeing from suppliers is incredible.”

The Product Data Hub is an online system designed to help packaging producers to comply with existing regulations and to prepare for upcoming legislation. It logs key information from suppliers, which is then used for compliance reporting. The hub is pre-populated with packaging weights from Valpak’s EPIC (Environmental Product Information Centre) database, the largest in the UK, and also incorporates checks similar to those used in online banking to increase accuracy and convenience for customers. It was fully launched as the primary weights collection method for suppliers in 2021.

Under new UK legislation, plastic is set to come under the spotlight and entries into the hub reinforce the message that plastic packaging information needs to be recorded accurately

The arrival of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging in 2024 means UK business costs are expected to rise from £350 million to £2.7 billion per year. Modulated fees – which charge a higher rate for packaging products which are hard to recycle – are likely to form a major part of the legislation. Supply chain data is used both for meeting compliance requirements, and as a basis for product design changes.

The Valpak EPIC database currently holds over 33 million stock-keeping units (SKUs) and shows the complexity of common packaging items. For example, the range of multipacks of milkshakes sold in the UK include 13 different plastic elements, while lipstick packaging ranges from aluminium and steel, to glass, paper and up to 12 types of plastic. Of the 176 packaging materials listed for lipstick in EPIC, only six are widely recycled.

Gough added: “Product Data Hub submissions give a clear picture of the types of packaging on the market; they show that over a third of data submitted to Valpak is plastic. Under new UK legislation, plastic is set to come under the spotlight and entries into the hub reinforce the message that plastic packaging information needs to be recorded accurately.”

“Because the Product Data Hub is a live system, suppliers can access it whenever they need to input new data or update packaging changes,” said Olivia Candy, EPIC Manager, Valpak. “Front-end validation captures any errors immediately, as data is being inputted, leading to a much higher rate of data automatically going through to the database.

It works differently from the traditional template system and gives suppliers greater confidence in the accuracy of their data input. The tabs are pre-populated with data previously provided, saving suppliers’ time. Already in 2021, we were able to contact 184 per cent more suppliers than in 2020. We are looking forward to a full year of operation in 2022, with further developments in the pipeline.”

EPIC Media Group delivers unique vehicle wrap for Biffa

EPIC Media Group has delivered a unique vehicle wrap for waste management specialist, Biffa, which was unveiled at EPIC’s HQ in Kent last month.

To encourage clients to go electric, Biffa purchased a fully electric-conversion refuse collection truck supplied by RVS to be used as a demonstration vehicle. The design brief was to create a glitterball vehicle wrap that forced a second glance and the design does just that, especially when it twinkles in the sun.

We wanted a vehicle design that would make people stop and look!

To obtain the shimmer effect, a high-gloss metallic glitter vinyl was used. The design and installation phases took some technical planning to ensure the glitter squares lined up despite the curves in the truck’s bodywork.

Roger Edwards, Managing Director of Biffa said: “We wanted a vehicle design that would make people stop and look! EPIC has, once again, delivered an exceptional service with a fantastic looking result, they took our vision and made it a reality.”

Kevin Murton, Managing Director of EPIC Media Group said: “This has been such a fun and exciting project for our team to work on. It’s taken some precision working from our designers and installation team, but it looks fantastic. To see it in all its glory twinkling in the sun makes us all feel very proud to have been part of it.”

Going the extra mile at Hortonwood West

Shropshire construction company Morris Property has been tasked with extending a storage yard at Hortonwood West estate in Telford to meet the needs of a plastics manufacturer.

The 13,000 sq/m project will double the existing yard for Craemer UK’s second production facility in Telford, which was opened in 2019 to extend their production and storage capacities for wheelie bins, pallets, storage and transport containers.

Work on the £1.9m scheme is due to be completed at the end of January 2022. It includes fencing and providing drainage where water run-off from the yard will go through a fuel and oil interceptor into a swale pond formed by Morris Property as a ‘more eco-friendly approach’.

The extension of our existing storage & distribution facility at our second manufacturing site has become necessary due to the continued growth of our Shropshire based plastics manufacturing business.

Construction Manager Steve Flavell said: “Craemer approached us because of our reputation for quality work on the wider estate. We have recently completed Paragon Point, an industrial/distribution warehouse, on a neighbouring plot. It is the eighth development we have built at the site.”

Managing Director of Craemer UK, Steve Poppitt, said: “The extension of our existing storage & distribution facility at our second manufacturing site has become necessary due to the continued growth of our Shropshire based plastics manufacturing business.

“Craemer makes over two million high quality commercial and domestic wheelie bins each year and supplies over 70% of UK Councils and municipal waste companies.

“The further expansion emphasises both our company’s ongoing success and the Craemer Group’s commitment to investment in both the local and wider UK economy.

“We are delighted to be working with Shropshire-based Morris Group on this next phase of our UK expansion programme.”

• Blog

Vision Techniques: “best in the market for safety”

– by Vision Techniques

Commenting on the vehicle safety systems installed on the Oxford Direct Services’ fleet, Transport Manager, Owain Pearce says that “Vision Techniques is the best in the market for safety.”

Oxford Direct Services (ODS) has been a customer of Vision Techniques for almost 10 years. The managed service provider has always been committed to the investment in vehicle technology, which has included on-board cameras, cycle safety systems and anti-rollaway systems.

They were an early adopter of the original VT Live camera system for their fleet of waste collection vehicles and over the years, introducing additional safety and security systems to their growing mixed fleet.

The ODS fleet is now equipped with the latest Vision Techniques mobile DVR 4G with Live streaming cameras. The footage captured can be streamed live to the operations team and Owain explains that “the system is very user friendly”. The cameras are used to manage reported incidents, and Owain explains that by “reviewing the footage, we can respond to enquiries quickly, resolve disputes efficiently, and investigate claims of damage or missed collections – often saving us time and money.”

ODS has introduced safety monitoring audits across their operation, so the live camera functionality enables the team to randomly select a vehicle, watch the activity in real time and identify any safety or compliance concerns that need addressing.

The installation of the Vision Techniques BrakeSafe System to the Oxford Fleet provides reassurance to Drivers and Fleet Managers that with the Automatic Activation this will not be a problem and provides additional safety to the operators and general public.

Vision Techniques’ anti roll-away system, BrakeSafe, has been fitted to 40 of ODS’ 12T and above vehicles to prevent vehicle rollaways. According to research published by the Health and Safety Executive, 48 percent of drivers who were surveyed nationally indicated that they had personally experienced a vehicle rollaway. Failure to apply the handbrake and/or trailer parking brake was identified as the primary reason contributing to runaway incidents involving HGVs, so the introduction of BrakeSafe reduces risk and ensures the safety of the drivers and other road users from potentially catastrophic rollaway incidents.

The installation of the Vision Techniques BrakeSafe System to the Oxford Fleet provides reassurance to Drivers and Fleet Managers that with the Automatic Activation this will not be a problem and provides additional safety to the operators and general public.

Vision Techniques cycle safety systems are fitted to most vehicles in the ODS fleet. Oxford city has a high population of cyclists and cycle traffic is notoriously heavy. Turn alarms and turn signs are fitted to the vehicles and the drivers have split screen functionality in cab, allowing them to identify cyclists in their blind spots.

More recently, Owain explains that “the HGV fleet has also been fitted with VT Telematics, which brings together vehicle tracking, driver behaviour and camera footage in one dashboard.” ODS were early adopters of this platform and collaborated with Vision Techniques during the development phase.

Commenting on the systems provided by Vision Techniques, Owain says that “the systems have been excellent over the years. Vision Techniques is the best in the market for safety. We can maintain the systems ourselves and everything is very user-friendly.”