Veolia says the data shows that the public want packaging to “include recycled material, be more easily recyclable or be removed altogether”.
According to the waste management firm, following the broadcast of Blue Planet II, 35% of the British public say they have a better understanding of packaging recyclability, although the research also reveals that “there is still some confusion”.
For example, many consumers still believe that hard to recycle or non-recyclable items such as coffee cups (27%), black plastic containers (26%), toothpaste tubes (20%) and crisp and sweets wrappers (11%) are commonly recyclable, Veolia explains.
‘Mythbuster’
In conjunction with Recycling Week last week, Veolia released a recycling ‘mythbuster’ to help reduce misinformation, offering advice on what actually can and cannot be recycled. This follows the company’s recently published Plan for Plastics which it says, demonstrates that consumers expect over 50% of a plastic bottle to be made from recycled content.
Commenting on the research findings, Richard Kirkman, chief technology and innovation officer for Veolia said: “It’s encouraging that public knowledge on recycling is improving overall, but there is still some way to go.
“It’s encouraging that public knowledge on recycling is improving overall, but there is still some way to go.”
Richard Kirkman
Veolia
“When we start simplifying packaging and provide clearer labeling, this will enable more sustainable choices at the supermarket and ensure more materials will be collected and accepted at recycling centres. This is the essence of a circular economy and something we should all be striving towards.”
Veolia is a founding member of the UK Plastics Pact and reports to have long invested in sustainable solutions to packaging with ambitious targets to reduce plastic packaging waste. Together with other major industry players, Veolia said it is working with manufacturers to rethink and redesign packaging, so the UK can move towards a system which keeps the majority of plastic packaging in the circular economy.
Survey
The YouGov research involved an online survey of 2041 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken from 9–10 August 2018.
Related links
Plan for Plastics
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