The research looks to provide a detailed overview of the current UK landscape including how it is collected and infrastructure capacity.
The full report is only available to members of the environmental action group’s UK Plastics Pact, but the executive summary has been made available to the wider sector.
In an accompanying statement, WRAP explained the purpose of the report: “As the volume of collected film is expected to rise significantly post-2027, we must ensure the UK has the systems in place to capture, sort, and recycle it effectively.
“No single organisation or sector can do this alone – collaboration across the value chain is essential.”
Plastic films and flexible packaging currently represent 27% of consumer plastic packaging produced in the UK.
However, collection rates remain low and stagnant at 7% for the past few years.
WRAP estimated that the volume of consumer film produced each year could range from 336kt to 450kt.
Monopolyethylene (mono-PE) and monopolypropylene (mono-PP) tend to be the leading composite material and make up approximately 68% of the stream collectively.
Challenges, considerations and opportunities
The report identified that a mandated kerbside collection of plastic film across the UK could raise the overall recycling rate by 5%.
This policy is expected to come into effect in March 2027 in England alone as part of the Simpler Recycling legislation.
The report makes five suggestions to make the transition easier:
- Allow for recyclability by design by transitioning to mono-material films and implementing clearer design guidelines.
- Scale collection, sorting and reprocessing infrastructure.
- Strengthen domestic end markets by obtaining commitments to use recycled film content and establishing independent verification systems.
- Implement policy and financial mechanisms to enable change such as adjusting PRN/PERN incentives.
- Improve citizen engagement and communication through campaigns and consistent and clear labelling.
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