UK homes are estimated to discard an astounding 100 billion plastic packaging pieces annually, equating to approximately 2.5 million metric tons of plastic packaging discarded as waste in 2021. In response to these figures the UK Plastics Pact brings together businesses from the plastics industry, non-governmental organizations and the UK government in order to support the creation of a circular economy for plastics. A circular economy for plastics means more recycling and less waste.
By 2025, the UK Plastics Pact aims to:
- Remove problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through redesign, innovation and adoption of alternative delivery models that promote reuse.
- Ensure all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable.
- Achieve a plastic packaging recycling or composting rate of 70%.
- Ensure an average of 30% recycled content across all plastic packaging.
Pact Members are committed to delisting harmful plastics, reducing use of plastic packaging overall, promoting innovation in business strategy and supporting the UK’s recycling infrastructure. In addition, Pact Members will actively collaborate with government agencies to develop and implement in the UK standardized recycling regulations.
What has Mirius already achieved?
Based on our long-standing commitment to minimize the handling of single-use plastics, reducing waste and enhancing recycling, in 2019 we introduced 100% recycled and recyclable 750ml trigger bottles. This year (2024) Mirius transitioned from plastic to paper tape, significantly reducing our monthly plastic turnover by over 2,000 kg. Our ESG commitments oblige us to actively challenge the plastic packaging norms in our industry. Moving forward, our focus will remain on reducing single-use plastics in our production processes and increasing the use of recyclable alternatives.
To find out more about the UK Plastic Pact and Plastic Packaging Tax, please click here (the-uk-plastics-pact & gov.uk/guidance/plastic-packaging-tax)
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