IGD has released a packaging report detailing calls to action for a resilient sustainable packaging system in the UK.
Delivering More Sustainable Packaging Systems invites policymakers and leaders across the food system to collaborate on systemic change by addressing areas that require urgent action and joined-up thinking. These include policy reforms that: hold businesses to account, encourage investment from along the supply-chain and vitally, support an evolved, all-materials, approach to packaging.
The report offers a strong commercial case for investment. It also iterates that without a collaborative shift away from single-use packaging, modest results will be achieved in reaching a shared ambition to halve the environmental impacts of the UK packaging system by 2030.
The ambition, developed by IGD in 2021, with support from ongoing collaborator, Anthesis Group, has formed the cornerstone of IGD’s sector leading research into sustainable packaging systems. Of the new report –
Fiona Powell, head of sustainability at IGD said: “This report was co-developed with over 40 organisations and is a valuable and comprehensive resource to those wishing to collaborate on a sustainable and resilient sustainable packaging system in the UK. It offers deep dives into key areas of research that are less visible to the public but vital to systemic change, such as data-driven policymaking, design-optimisation, actions for R&D and procurement teams, waste operations, and so much more. There is clearly a commercial case to make this happen.:
Sophie Lees-Millais, associate director, sustainable packaging, products & circularity at Anthesis Group, said: “We are delighted to have continued supporting IGD with this new report highlighting the business case for investing in sustainable packaging and the calls to actions for policymakers and industry to deliver the enabling conditions needed for this system change. It is hugely encouraging to see the positive effect the IGD ambition has already had since 2021, with retailers setting ambitious packaging reduction targets, either at whole portfolio or category level. We hope this report builds on this effort to date and provides the means to drive action across the value chain and reduce the overall environmental impact of all packaging materials and their systems.”
In terms of what change looks like, investment from higher up the supply-chain and clear, consistent regulation are at the heart of the package of solutions described, to keep targets on track for business and government.
Potential cost savings for businesses can come from a variety of places, including lower packaging volumes, lower regulatory fees, and supply chain and store replenishment efficiencies, as well as lower energy costs and emissions.
Delivering More Sustainable Packaging Systems also outlines a fast changing and complex policy landscape in which action will be needed to meet targets. This in turn will affect the packaging practices of diverse groups from large multinational companies to households practising recycling and reuse.
The UK Collection and Packaging Reforms currently in progress are cited as being essential to creating a resilient and robust circular economy in packaging. From the consumer perspective, success will look like clearer communications in-store on sustainable initiatives such as refill and reuse.
IGD’s 2023 report on reuse and ‘refill on the go’ has shone a light on the importance of consumer communications in nudging behaviour change in stores and has informed part of this significant report on system improvement for UK packaging. Also considered in the new report are factors such as:
- Waste management
- Scaling system change
- Domestic waste infrastructure
- Consistency and efficiency
- Acceleration
In publishing this report, IGD aims to help decision makers invest their resources and creativity in developing a more resilient and joined-up packaging economy.
