A “disjointed and potentially counterproductive” approach to solving plastic pollution is emerging, according to a new report.
Under pressure from the public to act on plastic pollution, companies are on the verge of swapping to other materials with new, and potentially greater, environmental consequences, including higher carbon emissions.
New research for the Circular Economy Task Force, based on anonymised interviews from leading UK supermarkets and brands, reveals that, in the absence of government direction, a disjointed and potentially counterproductive approach to solving plastic pollution is emerging.
More than two years on from the release of Blue Planet II, relatively little has changed, with supermarkets still putting the equivalent of 900 pieces of single use plastic on the shelf for every person living in the UK every year, according to a new report by Green Alliance.
Companies need much more help from the government to tackle plastic pollution without making climate change and other environmental impacts worse in the process
The new report, Plastic promises: what the grocery sector is really doing about packaging, quotes industry insiders, suggesting bigger changes are on the way that could have negative consequences, including higher carbon emissions and lower packaging recyclability.
Libby Peake, senior policy adviser on resources at Green Alliance, said:“The public are right to be outraged about plastic pollution. But what we don’t want is, a few years down the line, for them to be outraged about new environmental problems caused by the alternatives. We need to address the root of the problem, our throwaway society.
“Companies need much more help from the government to tackle plastic pollution without making climate change and other environmental impacts worse in the process.”
Biodegradable plastic
A particular concern is compostable or ‘biodegradable’ plastic. Over 80% of consumers think this is environmentally friendly, but there is little understanding of what the terms mean and how the material should be dealt with once used.
The interviewees wanted a clearer approach to where it should be used and how it should be marked to avoid causing more problems.
“Consumers… are hugely confused about what bio-based, compostable and biodegradable mean” – Plastic Promises report
Confusion, they worried, could potentially harm the environment if people either put ‘compostable’ plastic in with conventional plastic, or litter material, wrongly assuming it will biodegrade in the open environment.
Some companies that had tried using this type of plastic also suggested that material did not degrade as expected in real life conditions.
Single-use packaging
Single use plastic is being replaced by other single use packaging, like paper bags and compostable or wooden cutlery, the report claims.
It says businesses admit that these decisions are sometimes being made without fully evaluating the environmental impact of the alternatives.
Despite shared aims and joint commitments from companies in the grocery sector, individual companies are developing their own policies around plastic to gain competitive advantage which could end up making environmental problems worse, the report says.
“We are aware that [by switching from plastic to other materials] we may, in some cases, be increasing our carbon footprint”– Plastic Promises report
“If I could have a magic wand, I’d like to see more joined up, top-down government intervention…We would like to see government be braver” – Plastic Promises report
Many companies want the government to have a “bigger role” in directing future developments and setting standards so action is coherent across the industry, the report states.
Reality check
Supporting the report, Richard Kirkman, Veolia UK’s chief technology and innovation officer, said: “This report is a reality check – it shows what’s happening with plastics on the ground and why we need to keep a level head. Let’s follow the science and ensure producers and consumers make sound material choices in line with the progressive resources and waste strategy.”
Adam Read, external affairs director at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said if we aren’t careful, short term decisions could cause “longer term problems” for establishing a true circular economy.
“As the war on plastics continues to rage, avoiding unintended consequences should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and that includes government, industry and, of course, consumers. Change must be managed and planned if we’re to move towards fully closed-loop systems for recycling and, more importantly, reuse.”
This report is a reality check – it shows what’s happening with plastics on the ground and why we need to keep a level head
Dan Cooke, head of sustainability at Viridor, saidoften “kneejerk reactions” of some buyers and brands can cause “frustration” for recycling companies as they move away from inherently recyclable packaging types into materials like coated cardboard and composites that are less recyclable and that can have a worse environmental impact.
“We work closely with supermarkets and brand owners on recyclability and to align recycling services with their requirements.
“There’s still an obvious need for improved collaboration and better policy to enable investment in technology and infrastructure that will sustainably raise recycling rates for post-consumer materials.”