Two drinks giants quit Valpak for Onyxpak

Diageo, which has a turnover of about 11.8 billion, includes Burger King and Pillsbury foods as well as Guinness.

Now, Onypak, which has other large members such as the retailer ASDA, has to ensure on behalf of both companies that their recovery and recycling obligation is carried out in accordance with the Packaging Waste Regulations.

Britvic, a founding member of Valpak, reviewed the compliance schemes available and selected Onyxpak.
Mike Wright, Britvic’s risk manager, said: “It was a combination of the flexible membership options and the customer service which made me choose Onyxpak. We had been a Valpak member since it was founded and we thought it was time to review what options there were and what we needed from a compliance scheme.”

Andrew Francis, Onyx’ compliance scheme manager, said he was delighted the companies had selected Onyxpak as their scheme. “I believe they are looking for a scheme to really work with them and in partnership. We want to work as much as possible with them, possibly in a more interventionist way.”

This interventionist approach could mean, said Mr Francis, getting involved either in waste management or organising PRNs (packaging waste recovery notes) from the recycling carried out by the companies.


Pictured are Andrew Francis, Onyxpak scheme manager and and also the Onyxpak team Lisa Bremner
(standing), and Tara Chapman).

Onyxpak’s membership has grown since the end of 1998 when it had 23 members to 230 today. Mr Francis said that with increased membership the scheme will be more active in the market for PRNs although he pointed out that that within the whole market the obligation already existed.

On the PRN front he noted that PRN prices for the first quarter of the year had not risen to the levels seen in January 1998.
“But clearly a lot more recycling will need to be done this year and so we may see a higher PRN price.

“I don’t think it will reach 1998 levels. But, there are still a lot of go it alone companies and the effect of these in the marketplace will influence prices.”