Plastics sector launches high-profile awareness campaign

The Plastics 2020 Challenge – which is being sponsored by plastics trade associations the British Plastics Federation (BPF), PlasticsEurope and the Packaging and Films Association (PAFA) – represents the first time that plastics manufacturers and processors have called for a widespread debate and set their own targets for recycling.

The campaign, which was first announced as a means of improving public understanding of the sector (see letsrecycle.com story), also challenges the government, MPs, environmental groups and consumers to join forces with the industry to improve resource efficiency.

As part of the campaign, plastics recycling companies and councils are being asked to pledge to double plastics recycling rates by 2020 and commit to the ‘Four Rs' of reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.

Calum Forsyth from the Plastics 2020 Challenge said: “Plastics have become indispensable to our daily lives, and yet debate surrounding their use and disposal has become unhelpfully polarised. The urgent challenge is to confront head on these issues which surround one of modern life's essential materials, as time is running out about the options for efficient disposal of plastics.”

To mark the launch of the campaign, a website has been launched aimed at encouraging members of the public and interest groups to join the debate on the benefits, use and disposal of plastic products and packaging, while environmental campaigners, such as Friends of the Earth, are also set to be encouraged to take part in regular web debates on subjects such as marine littering and bio plastics.

Research

In addition to the launch of the campaign, which was welcomed by WRAP and the Local Government Association, the Plastics 2020 Challenge published new research highlighting that only half of councillors responsible for waste and recycling are confident of meeting government's waste strategy targets for recycling and composting 40% of household waste by 2010, 45% by 2015 and 50% by 2020.

In a study undertaken by polling consultancy ComRes, it was revealed that almost a third of councillors do not expect to meet the government's targets for recycling, composting and energy recovery next year while a third did not know if they would meet the targets for 2015 and 2020.

And, almost one fifth of councillors reported a “high or very high” risk of Council Tax bills having to rise in 2020 because the target would not be met.

Councillor Paul Bettison of the Local Government Association commented: “It is very welcome to see the plastics industry come to the table with proposals to drive up plastic recycling rates as well as wider initiatives for resource efficiency. Consumers have shown high levels of support for recycling, and with the industry's engagement I hope we see the challenge being met.”