Compliance scheme to source PRNs solely from UK

Packaging compliance scheme Pennine Pack is to launch a new ethical packaging compliance service at the Eco-Fair exhibition in Leeds tomorrow (May 21), which will source all of its PRNs exclusively from the UK.

Ethical Compliance has been touted by Pennine Pack as the UKs first low carbon packaging compliance scheme.

The move came after Pennine Pack started to look at its environmental management systems and the impact of its carbon footprint. It found that as well as the direct and indirect emissions caused by everyday necessities such as office heating, the difference in emissions for recycling in the UK and abroad was significant.

Exporting to China, the company claims, totals about 18,000km of shipping per trip – with about 300kg of carbon emissions produced per tonne of waste. In 2011, the UK exported almost 3 million tonnes of packaging waste abroad to be recycled.

The scheme was approved as a UK registered packaging compliance scheme on March 28 this year by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

John Mooney, director of Ethical Compliance, told letsrecycle.com that 15% of Pennine Packs customers had already migrated to the new service.

He said factors for the switch included companies hoping to reduce their carbon footprint, support of UK business, and the UKs track record on human rights which has a higher minimum wage than China and is protected by EU health and safety legislation.

Accreditation

Furthermore, changes to the ISO 14000 accreditation which maps out a framework for companies to control their environmental impact has seen greater responsibility put on businesses to improve environmental performance across the supply chain as well as on-site.

Mr Mooney said: After a successful pilot last year were excited to launch this brand new scheme for companies who are keen to reduce their environmental impact and support UK industry.

Weve had a lot of interest from existing Pennine Pack customers and were looking forward to Eco-Fair where we will highlight what this brand new compliance scheme can offer.

Based in Yorkshire, Pennine Pack was originally set up by the Green Business Network in 1997 to help local businesses meet their packaging recycling obligations under the producer responsibility legislation.

Since then, it has grown to encompass 70 members, which includes its original partners and internationally-recognised brands.

So far, the firm has had some additional interest in Ethical Compliance outside its existing customer base but hopes to attract more attention at the Eco-Fair exhibition.