UK Bioplastics and Waste Management

UK NEWS

UK Bioplastics News

2025

• Deliveroo, Gail’s, And Sheffield Hallam University Collaborate To Innovate Sustainable Coffee Cup Delivery

• UKFT update on the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

• Nigel Farage says Reform councillors are refusing training on Net Zero and diversity – as unions gear up to fight cull of staff and crackdown on WFH

• Recyclability assessment methodology: how to assess your packaging waste

• PackUK updates market on RAM guidance 

• Duo UK and Oxfam Ireland launch bio-based, reusable mailer bags for e-commerce circularity

• Waste companies back compostable certification scheme

• York student creates fully-sustainable bio-polymer with potential to replace traditional plastic

• Good Practice Guidance on Waste and Recycling Collections

• Profile | OPRL insists EPR will clear confusion on recyclability

• Red tape and bureaucracy: do we need PackUK to run the EPR?

• Packaging sector fearful EPR costs could impact bottom line

• EPR redefined as tax with estimated cost £2bn higherOpens in new window

• New rules simplifying recycling for workplaces in England come into force

• Transforming Waste into Resources: New Processing Plants Open in Dagenham and Liverpool

• Environment Secretary sets out vision for circular economy

• TRA to investigate HVO biodiesel imports from the USA

• WRAP calls for ban on packaging for most fresh produce

• Defra confirms two weeks deadline for businesses to submit 2024 packaging data for pEPR

• EFRA Committee publishes strategy to guide its work

• Birmingham waste strike escalates over council employment dispute

• UK joint policy statement on packaging Extended Producer Responsibility

• Square Mile leaders set sights on circular economy by 2040

• Environmental claims: Biodegradable and compostable

• This British invention could stop the world’s biggest cause of plastic pollution

• Pioneering the next generation of bio-based polymers in partnership with London-listed Synthomer

• Deposit Return Scheme: drinks producer and retailer responsibilities

• Government implements deposit return scheme in England and Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland distillery fined £1,000 for breach of packaging waste regulations

• PackUK: the new scheme administrator for Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility

• Defra launches ‘PackUK’ scheme administrator for packaging extended producer responsibility

• Cost to clean up toxic PFAS pollution could top £1.6tn in UK and Europe

• Chemicals coming to an end in the UK.

• UK scientists develop “self-healing” plastic for durability and shelf life expansion

• Recycling assessment methodology: stages of recyclability and definitions

• Defra unveils pEPR recyclability assessment method

• Packaging waste: apply to be an accredited reprocessor or exporter

• Circular Economy Taskforce

• TRA to review countervailing measure on Indonesian biodiesel

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2024

• TRA to review countervailing measure on Indonesian biodiesel

• Industry network secures £474k to boost bio-based materials regulation

• Labour ‘must avoid Tory waste strategy failings’

• Recyclers call for an end to DRS after Wales goes it alone

• Clearing up the compostable plastic mess

• Multi-stage MFA for evaluating sustainable waste potential for bioplastics conversion in the circular economy: An examination of UK wastes to produce cellulose nanofibre

• Plastic pollution treaty: business roundtable statement

• QC Polymer for sale after going into administration

• Plastic Packaging Tax – chemical recycling and adoption of a mass balance approach

• Viridor to close recycling plant in Avonmouth

• Call for more clarity on Defra EPR fee structure amidst data collection confusion

• Removing packaging from uncut fresh produce

• Food & Drink Federation hits back at allegation lobbyists delayed EPR

• British food firms successfully lobbied to defer £1.7bn plastic packaging tax

• Government shelves plans for mandatory recycling labels after opposition from Europe

• Extended producer responsibility for packaging: illustrative base fees

• Defra lowers proposed EPR base fees across almost all materials

• Recycling rate for plastics made by UK producers more than doubled in decade

• Solinatra and Plastribution Sign Partnership to Grow the UK and Ireland Plant Based Materials Market

• Extended producer responsibility for packaging: illustrative base fees

• Ocado first to pilot online reusable packaging scheme

• UK government’s impending ban on plastic-based wet wipes has industry and consumers talking

• Number of plastic bags found on UK beaches down 80% since charge introduced

• UK off track for Net Zero, say country’s climate advisors

• Plastics sector presses Treasury for mass balance clarity

• Mura Technology and WMG secure innovate UK grant to grow commercial opportunities for Hydrothermal advanced plastic recycling technology

• Environmental groups call for Labour to tackle the ‘plastic crisis’

• Glastonbury’s Hayes Pavilion “pushes the boundaries” of what bioplastic can do

• Prince William jokes about ‘Harry Potter’ scar he sustained on the golf course as he’s shown a tee made from seaweed on visit to Cardiff

• ‘It just didn’t work’: how businesses are struggling with re-useable packaging

• Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers: joint policy statement

• UK helps secure progress towards new legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution

• Manchester company fined over £870,000 for illegal waste exports

• ‘Vital for looking after the soil’: fears as UK earthworm population declines

• Parkside’s five-star partnership with Hoogly brings compostable tea packaging to UK hotels

• Switch to a bio-based economy boosted by new University of Sheffield initiative

• Bio-based and biodegradable materials regulatory network

• £50K INITIATIVE TO ASSESS BARRIERS TO BIO-BASED MATERIALS

• First Seaweed-Based Packaging Approved As ‘Recyclable’ By Oprl

• The compostable & refillable brand Tesco is betting on

• Fully certified compostable polyester CELYS launches in London

• Compostable packaging trial declared a success

• Compostable Coalition UK: Reinforced messaging creates five-fold increase in correct packaging disposal

• Disposable vapes banned to protect children’s health

• King’s scientists discover enzyme used in laundry detergent can recycle single-use plastics

• Plastic Packaging Use and Recycling Collection Rates Drop for the First Time

• Mygroup Partners With Harrods H Beauty For In-Store Cosmetics Recycling

• Waste and recycling statistics

• ASA research on green disposal claims in ads

• Recycling: What’s the difference between biodegradable, compostable and recyclable?

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2023

• Autumn Statement 2023 — Overview of tax legislation and rates (OOTLAR)

• Changes to Plastic Packaging Tax rates from 1 April 2024

• The winner is the British team

• The bioeconomy: A realistic opportunity to make a major contribution to creating a sustainable circular economy

• Plastic tax system ‘being abused’ by foreign imports, claim MPs

• Uk Packaging Award 2023 Winners

• Simpler recycling collections and tougher regulation to reform waste system

• Plastic-eating enzymes could help solve pollution problem

• A major plastic ban comes into force from October – what you need to know

• Youtube link

• Extended producer responsibility for packaging: who is affected and what to do

• London Design Students Showcase Renewable, Circular Products

• County Durham Recycles Plastics Success

• The waste prevention programme for England: Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste

• Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste: policy summary table

• Waste prevention programme for England: Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste

• Compostable coffee pod manufacturer agrees Aldi stocking deal

• Plastic packaging tax – chemical recycling and adoption of a mass balance approach

• Norfolk bio-products firm set to be hit by single-use plastics ban

• World-beating Australian recycling tech debuts in UK, Japan

• Notice to retailers: Plastic containers or utensils containing bamboo

• Leading Plastics Stakeholders Rally In Support Of Chemical Recycling

• Sunak says approving new licences for oil and gas drilling ‘entirely consistent’ with net zero plan – as it happened

• UK strengthens pledge to end plastic pollution by 2040

• Unwrapping a sustainable future: Mars® bars go green in UK

• Adverts claiming products are carbon neutral by using offsetting face UK ban

• Uber Eats begins ground-breaking reusable containers trial in London

• Harmonizing England’s waste collection: Experts clash with council leaders over government plans

• Plastic packaging tax rate increases

• WRAP launches strategy to encourage retailers to sell fruit and veg loose

• Retrac Group signs up to Technology Evaluation with UK biomaterial start-up Cellexcel 

• Lack of EPR preparedness laid bare in a new survey

• Planning permission granted for Quantafuel’s first UK plastics recycling plant

• What really happens to compostable bin liners?

• UK ploughs millions into chemical recycling research despite greenwashing claims

• UK climate minister received donations from fuel and aviation companies

• Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers moves a step closer

• Waitrose cans small bottles from the wine aisle

• FPA Calls Out Defra over leaks

• Environmental campaigner has say on move to ban single-use plastics

• Single-use plastic cutlery and plates to be banned in England

• INDUSTRIAL SCALE COMPOSTING TRAIL OF COMPOSTABLE PRODUCTS

• Provenance, Valpak and WRAP launch postcode-specific recycling tool for e-commerce and off-pack

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Youtube link

We are proud to lead a large scale composting trial of compostable packaging, together with our partners. At Envar's composting facility, C.P. are mixed with food & green waste, and the degradation process is monitored, with quality tests screening for any plastic contamination. pic.twitter.com/RVeKny9Vvx

— TIPA-Corp (@TIPACorp) January 4, 2023

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2022

• Single-use plastic cutlery and plates face ban in England

• Liz Truss Appoints Ranil Jayawardena MP as Defra Secretary of State

• Business model for power bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (Power BECCS)

• Power BECCS Business Model Consultation

• Respond online

• Report launch: Unlocking the UK’s biomass resources as a feedstock for Chemical Manufacturing

• Renewable energy innovation boosted by £37 million government funding across the UK

• Carrier bag charge sees usage plummet by 97%

• Carrier bag charge: summary of data in England

• Single-use plastic carrier bags charge data for England

• You shouldn’t put ‘compostable’ plastic bags in your compost heap, government admits

• Minister says compostable plastics will not get backing

• Reports, special reports and government responses

• Now poppies are going eco-friendly: Royal British Legion plans to scrap plastic stem for new biodegradable material

• Lidl Gb Becomes First Uk Supermarket To Trial On-Shelf Smart Refills

• Government actions to combat waste crime

• SSPP Future Plastic Packaging Solutions Round 2

• UK chemical recycling innovator fails

• Tata Chemicals Europe (“TCE”) today officially opened the UK’s first industrial scale carbon capture and usage plant, signalling a key milestone in the race to meet the UK’s net zero targets.

• BPF statement in response to findings of the Big Plastic Count

• BCF Press release – Industry body takes action on greenwash claims in decorative paints

• Green Claims Guide for Decorative Paints

• Delivering on the Environment Act: new targets announced and ambitious plans for nature recovery

• BPF releases online tool to identify what qualifies for the plastics packaging tax

• Queen of clean! Her Majesty launches her own brand of Sandringham washing up liquid – but it will cost you £14.99

• New uses for UK’s 500,000 single-use coffee cups

• FPA Criticises Defra Minister On Litter

• Nigel Farage’s new drive for vote to kill off Boris’s ‘ruinous’ green agenda: He got us out of the EU… Now the former UKIP chief demands a referendum on Net Zero

• Plastic packaging innovations receive £30 million boost from UKRI

• Government Failing On Strategic Commitments To Compostable Material

• Team GB’s Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics kit is made from recycled ocean plastic

• DrinkWell claims first with fully biodegradable plastic water bottle

• Petrol shortage as Just Stop Oil disrupt supply from UK oil terminals

• Just Stop Oil Website

• ASA Ruling on Pepsi Lipton International

• ‘Waste colonialism’: world grapples with west’s unwanted plastic

• The UK city taking a stand on palm oil in the fight against deforestation

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Media and videos

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2021

• How invisible barcodes could increase plastic recycling

• UK Plastics Pact cuts plastic packaging by 10% and doubles recycled content

• Symphony Environmental oxo-biodegradable not listed as a “problematic plastic”

• Consultation launched on banning single-use plastics

• Plans unveiled to ban single-use plastics

• Single-use plastic: banning the supply of commonly littered single-use plastic items

• Call for evidence on commonly littered and problematic plastic items

• Fpa Comment On Latest Defra Sup Consultation

• INEOS Styrolution confirms its investment decision for Europe’s first polystyrene advanced recycling pilot plant

• Compost Connect Website

• Cedo Launches the UK’s First Antibacterial Recycled Refuse Sack for Domestic Use

• Xampla to ‘inspire innovators of tomorrow’ at Science Museum this half term

• Boris Johnson is talking rubbish… AND he’s right: Yes, it’s infuriating for the Prime Minister to say recycling is futile. But wait until you hear what really happens to plastic after you’ve carefully sorted it, writes GEOFFREY LEAN

• Recycling plastics does not work, says Boris Johnson

• Plastic Waste – Volume 700: debated on Wednesday 8 September 2021

• WRAP Consultation On Litter Costs

• New Food And Beverage Offerings At The Etihad Stadium This Season

• Miscanthus research gets government funding to help the UK to meet net zero

• Firm that receives millions from govt in court over concerns dust from wood pellets endangers workers

• A sticky situation: Ban stickers on apples to stop 100 million pieces of waste a week

• One simple message on pack could drive up recycling rates

• Green Claims Code – get your green claims right

• Big brands and everyday essentials in reusable packaging: Loop launches in Tesco stores

• £4 million funding to boost UK biomass production

• Disposable plastic plates, cutlery and polystyrene cups could be banned

• Five things to know about biodegradable and compostable plastics

• Charity set to reshape conservation sector with plastic free planting pledge

• Biffa caught exporting banned waste again

• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has invested almost £2 million in 14 projects to address consumer problems with plastic packaging.

• Lidl Gb Removes One Billion Pieces Of Plastic

• Queen secretly lobbied Scottish government ministers for climate law exemption
  

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2021 Media