Unilever UK today (25 April) announced its membership of the On-Pack Recycling Label (ORPL) scheme, in a move which will provide simple and consistent recycling guidance across its products sold in the UK.
Unilever’s membership will see the UK business introduce OPRL’s recycling labels across many of its brands in the UK during 2018, helping households correctly recycle more packaging material, more often.
The latest move aligns with the company’s broader commitment to increase the use of recycled plastic content in packaging and to ensure 100% of its plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
“Our membership of OPRL moves us further in the right direction by providing recycling guidance that is simple, clear and consistent. With our presence in 98% of UK homes, we can be part of the solution to improving recycling rates across the nation.”
Commenting on the announcement Yvette Edwards, Sustainable Business and Communications Director, Unilever UK and Ireland said: “We know that recycling and the wider issue of plastic waste is important to the people who buy our products.
“Our membership of OPRL moves us further in the right direction by providing recycling guidance that is simple, clear and consistent. With our presence in 98% of UK homes, we can be part of the solution to improving recycling rates across the nation.”
Jane Bevis, Chair of OPRL said: “We’re delighted that Unilever is joining OPRL and adopting our labelling on its UK brands as part of their commitment to engaging customers in taking environmental and social action. Our membership covers tiny start-ups right through to global brands, and that’s the strength of our labelling.
“Clear, consistent messaging for consumers giving evidenced recycling advice, no matter whose packaging they are looking at. With Unilever’s family of brands also rolling out the label it means even more people see that same advice on their favourite brands, every day. That’s what consumers keep telling us they want.”
Recognised by more than seven in ten consumers, the OPRL scheme offers the most widely known packaging recycling label guidance in the UK.
The guidance is divided into three categories and helps consumers understand what they can and cannot recycle in their local council’s kerbside collection, and what should be taken to the council’s recycling centres.