“A transformational step forward in the circular economy in the UK.” So boldly proclaimed the body newly appointed to run deposit return schemes (DRS) for single-use plastic and metal drinks containers in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Whether transformation is truly on the cards remains to be seen, but there’s no escaping the significance of this week’s confirmation by the UK Government, along with the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Scotland, that UK Deposit Management Organisation Limited (UK DMO) will operate DRS in the three home nations (the Welsh Government pulled out of a UK-wide scheme last year).
It follows a long and often fraught process to align schemes as far as possible to ensure their smooth running ahead of the go-live date in October 2027. From that point on, when people buy drinks containers made from PET plastic, steel and aluminium between 150ml and 3 litres, they will pay a deposit, which will be refunded in full when they return the empty container for recycling.
UK DMO has been established as a business-led, not-for-profit organisation whose board is made up of representatives from major drinks suppliers and retailers including Tesco, Lidl, Heineken and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. It will be responsible for operating the schemes, as well as helping businesses and consumers prepare for them, and meeting collection targets. While the English and Northern Irish system operates under separate legislation to the Scottish system, Scottish ministers have decided their scheme will also be operated by UK DMO.
“The ambition now is to deliver a complex scheme that requires very significant investment in challenging times with major changes to operations, in a way that’s as cost-effective as possible, while furthering environmental goals,” said British Beer and Pub Association chief executive, Emma McClarkin.
Any hope within industry that progress on DRS might placate anti-plastic campaigners was soon dashed following the release of new polling by the charity, City to Sea. It found nearly half (46%) of the British public want to see a charge introduced on single-use packaging, similar to the 5p carrier bag levy introduced in 2015. Almost three quarters (72%) of the 2,004 people surveyed said they want to see more reusable, refillable and returnable options where they shop, while there was also support for single-use items like plastic-wrapped fruit and veg, plastic water bottles and single-use plastic bags to be banned entirely.
“With EPR finally ironed out and a DRS on the way, the government has a clear opportunity to not just ban some of the most polluting single-use plastic items but incentivise reusable packaging to help consumers make the sustainable switches they desperately want to do,” said Jane Martin, CEO of City to Sea.
Alongside plastic, trade deals have also come under the spotlight this week. On Tuesday, the government was trumpeting “a huge economic win for the UK” following an agreement with India that will reduce tariffs on exports of products such as whisky, salmon, soft drinks, chocolate and biscuits. Heading in the other direction will be cheaper food items including frozen prawns as the UK lowered some of its own tariffs for Indian imports. The government insisted it had upheld the UK’s high food standards and animal welfare commitments throughout the agreement, but campaigners will be scrutinising the details having previously warned of more lax Indian standards around chemical use in agriculture.
As the Digest was going to press, Sir Keir Starmer was due to confirm details of an initial trade deal with the US which is set to cause similar alarm among health and environmental campaigners. Defra secretary of state Steve Reed had earlier addressed concern the UK would make concessions to the US on food standards by telling Parliament: “We will not be allowing British farmers to be undercut on environmental or welfare standards in the way that the Conservatives did when they agreed a trade deal with Australia.” Footprint will explore the implications of new trade deals in greater depth in the weeks ahead.
Elsewhere in Footprint News this week:
- Members of the public will get to have their say on the contents of England’s new food strategy. More.
- England’s National Food Crime Unit has been given new powers to apply for and execute search warrants. More.
- Food businesses are facing calls to strengthen policies to eliminate bycatch in UK seafood supply chains. More.
