UK - Producers pledge to reduce packaging

In 2005, the major retailers in the UK signed up to the Courtauld Commitment with Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). The meeting, initiated through WRAP's Retail Innovation Programme, focused on engaging support to find new packaging solutions and technologies, so that less rubbish ends up in the household bin. At the end of the summit, the participating retailers agreed in the achievements of its objectives:


*To design out packaging waste growth by 2008.
*To deliver absolute reductions in packaging waste by 2010.
*To identify ways to tackle the problem of food waste.

The aim is to reduce the 6.3 million tonnes of packaging reaching UK homes each year by at least 340,000 tonnes by 2010. The Commitment also requires signatories to draw-up plans to reduce the estimated 6.7 million tonnes of food waste produced in the UK each year. There are now 25 major grocery organisations signed up to the Commitment, which was drawn-up in late 2005.

Food and drinks manufacturers including Britvic and Cadbury Schweppes have signed-up to the voluntary agreement between UK retailers to reduce packaging and food waste.

WRAP's chief executive Liz Goodwin said: "This announcement is good news for the consumer and the environment. Alastair Sykes, chairman and chief executive of Nestle UK, added: "Reducing packaging waste is environmentally responsible and makes sound business sense. This partnership will benefit the environment, reduce waste and improve efficiency, so it creates shared value for our business and the wider community."

A range of measures have been implemented by other signatories including Asda's lighter salad bags which have reduced material use by 14% and Co-op's decision to remove cartons from their tomato puree.

WRAP Courtauld Commitment link

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UK wide - Christmas plastic bag ban urged

Shoppers and retailers are being encouraged to join a campaign for the UK's first plastic bag-free Christmas. We Are What We Do, a not-for-profit group, says plastic bag carrying should be as unacceptable as wearing fur. Shops will display logos saying "Plastic Ain't My Bag" while consumers will be encouraged to use reusable, eco-friendly bags. The group was also the force behind designer Anya Hindmarch's sell-out "I'm Not A Plastic Bag" shopping bag.

Unfashionable Virgin Megastores, Dermalogica beauty salons and scores of small retailers have pledged their support for the Christmas campaign and the group hopes that the official campaign launch on Thursday will bring in more retailers.

The group aims to have a "Plastic Ain't My Bag" logo in "every window in every shop in every high street in the country by Christmas". Shops will be asked to not automatically give out plastic bags while shoppers will be asked not to take a bag unless they really need one and to reuse an old plastic bag or carry an eco-friendly shopping bag. A plastic bag takes up to 500 years to decay in landfill. There is an alternative. It's called a shopping bag We Are What We Do
Eugenie Harvey, co-founder of We Are What We Do, said: "Wouldn't it be great if carrying a plastic bag was as unfashionable as wearing fur this Christmas?

"There's no question that there's a heightened awareness about the environment. This campaign feeds into that and is one of the simple, practical things that everyone can do to improve the environment - every bag we take ends up in landfill and takes up to 500 years to decay. "Unless it's impractical or your purchase is embarrassing, ask yourself whether you really need a plastic bag." She added: "I hope people will go deeper still and buy food that does not have lots of packaging, shop locally and buy Fairtrade tea and coffee."

The group launched in 2004 alongside the publication of a book, Change the World for a Fiver, which lists simple tips for improving people's health, community and environment.
The first tip in the book suggests declining the use of plastic bags in shops.

Throw-away bags It says: "Every person in the country uses an average of 167 plastic bags every year. That's 10 billion bags all together. A plastic bag takes up to 500 years to decay in landfill. There is an alternative. It's called a shopping bag."

David Miliband, the environment secretary, told the BBC on Sunday that throw-away carrier bags would become a thing of the past within a few years. He said the government had no plans to introduce a plastic bag tax but was working with supermarkets to make sure more bags were reused or recycled.

From BBC News

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USA - Seattle publishes study charting route to zero waste

The Mayor of Seattle recently published the results of a study to show how Seattle can get its recycling strategy back on track. Three major goals of the study were to:

• Provide an objective, third-party evaluation of Seattle's work to date
• Identify potential strategies that could push Seattle beyond its current 60% diversion goal
• Evaluate the effect that implementing such strategies would have on facilities

The City of Seattle has had a long-established goal to recycle 60% of all the waste generated by its residents and businesses. In 2002, the city's recycling rate had stagnated at less than 38%.

In November 2003, Mayor Nickels proposed 10 innovative programmes to help the city reach 60% diversion by 2010, including a recycling ordinance for businesses and residents, free recycling services for small businesses and a residential food waste collection program. By 2005, Seattle's recycling rate had sharply risen to 44% , with even more gains expected.

The newly completed study, jointly sponsored by the City Council is in two parts. The main report is in Volume 1 (PDF). All the strategies that were considered for the report are contained in Volume 2 (PDF).

Seattle Public Utilities considers its existing solid waste recycling, transfer and disposal facilities, constructed in the 1960s, to be outdated, poorly designed, and lacking in adequate environmental controls to meet the city's current and future solid waste goals. The city's decision on its solid waste facilities plan is scheduled to be made by July 2007.

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