WRAP to take risks in retail packaging innovation fund

Speaking at an information day for the third phase of the Retail Initiative today, WRAP's head of innovation, Richard Swannell, said the organisation wanted a portfolio that featured projects from both ends of the risk scale.

He explained: “The idea for the fund is to get the most innovative ideas possible, we want to run trial projects that other people are not willing to take risks on. If we get to the end of this project and every single scheme has been a complete success I will be a little bit disappointed.”

” We want to run trial projects that other people are not willing to take risks on. “
– Richard Swannell, WRAP
The Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) started a programme since last November which aims to reduce the amount packaging that consumers are forced to deal with.

The scheme offers funding for “innovative ideas” that will have a significant effect on the amount of packaging retailers use on their products. WRAP has set itself a target of cutting 310,000 tonnes of packaging consumers are forced to recycle or throw away by March 2006.

And Mr Swannell said that anyone thinking of applying for the final phase of the project should definitely go ahead and send in an application. He said: “We used around 622,940 for the first phase and have so far used 651,704 for the second, with several project still to look at.

“By the time the third phase deadline of April 14 comes around we are likely to have in the region of 5 million left over and we would like to use this all up on worthwhile,” he added.

Results

Also at today's event, WRAP announced early results for the first phase of the initiative. The organisation had 22 proposals for funding, four of which it has signed contracts with and two more require further negotiations. WRAP has said that it is projecting a saving of around 99,400 tonnes of packaging material from this phase of the project.

A spokeswoman for WRAP said that the organisation would be revealing more in-depth results on the first phase “imminently”.

In the second phase of the initiative, which came to a close on January 28, one applicant has already signed a contract while eight more are still in discussions over the final details of the contract.