packaging
All hands on deck
Stakeholder engagement is key says the leading global
environmental authority. Everyone, from the central and local
governments, industries, retailers, waste management authority,
the citizens and tourism associations, has to be in on the fight. In
raising awareness, be it through educational programmes, TV ads
and campaigns, the message according to the UN Environment
should include an explanation why the policy is being
introduced, and what are the expected benefits and potential
punitive measures.
The UN agency adds that in promoting alternatives, the
considerations should not only focus on being environment-
friendly but also on being affordable and in fitting purpose. It
identifies incentivising industry as a way to get buy-in and that it
should allow for the transition, offer tax rebates, and keep certain
eco-friendly materials tax free.
The UN agency also stresses the need to ringfence revenues
to support waste management, recycling, environmental projects
and financing awareness initiatives. Effective enforcement
requires setting roles and responsibilities, ensuring sufficient
human manpower for enforcements, communicating enforcements
process, as well as prosecuting offenders in line with policy
revision. Of course, as efforts take off and gain traction, monitoring
becomes inevitable through audits, surveys, studies and interviews
to also guide possible adjustments in policy.References
Turning the Tide on Plastic Waste, Janet Salem Sustainable Consumption and Production,
UN Environment Asia And the Pacific Office
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coca-cola-announces-new-investments-in-
enhanced-recycling-as-par
Life Cycle Analysis study conducted by IVL 2016 for Nordic and GermanyNote: The next installment to the series will look into Asia’s growing challenges with
plastic and packaging. It will include F&B industry-initiated research, some country-
specific challenges and solutions, and how an integrated and coordinated approach
could be worked out.the Tetra Brick use the same production process, and recycling is
possible in the same stream with other packages.
Tetra Pak has aimed to launch paper straws for its portion-size
cartons, explains environment manager Teera Puxsupachat. In the
interim, it advises consumers to always put the straw back in the
pack to ensure it goes through the recycling process.
As part of its strategy to improve packaging recyclability,
Tetra Pak launched its Tetra Top Separable Top. A perforation
below the top makes it easy to separate the sleeve, and to recycle
both parts. This is especially a boon for markets that require such
waste management.
Growing partnerships
Other F&B companies are doing their share and setting
targets for 2025. Danone has committed to use 100% recycled
plastic in bottling its mineral water brand, Evian.
McDonald’s is looking to use all recycled or other
environmentally friendly materials for its soda cups, Happy Meal
boxes and other packaging.
PepsiCo’s goal is to make 100% of its packaging recoverable
or recyclable. It is also collaborating with other stakeholders to
encourage packaging recovery and recycling rates.
“Self-regulation is always better for industries,” according to
Janet Salem of the UN Environment Asia and the Pacific Office.
But if this does not work, fines and regulations are options.
The UN Environment lays the groundwork for implementing
these in its 10-point roadmap for levies and bans.
As a first step, it calls for knowing the baseline: identify the
most problematic single-use plastics; assess current causes, extent
and impacts as well as evaluate consumer’s willingness to pay.
Secondly, it says there is a need to evaluate possible
actions to take including regulatory, voluntary, economic or a
combination of the previous three. Once the preferred action is
identified, the next step is to assess its impact.
Access code
FPA0314