At PALLITE®, we can help businesses affected by the Governments Packaging Waste Regulations to comply with their obligations. Our packaging products are 100% recyclable and four-times lighter than their equivalents made from wood or plastic, meaning businesses benefit from being able to use more while still complying with the law. Read on to find out more
Packaging in all its forms accounts for a large quantity of the waste we produce, whether it is internal packaging that hold goods securely, protective packaging that prevents them being damaged, or transit packaging that allows them to be moved around safely and securely. So it isnt really surprising that businesses that produce or use packaging in some way are expected to be increasingly responsible for reducing packaging waste through re-use and recycling.
Recycling is nothing new. From businesses big and small, to individuals in their own homes, weve been recycling for many years. We may even think were pretty good at it by now.
We know that recycling saves natural resources and energy, helps to protect the environment and tackle climate change by reducing emissions and pollution, and reduces the amount of rubbish sent to landfill.
But, just because we know what recycling is all about why were doing it and how we can do it it doesnt mean were doing as much as we should or could be doing.
Businesses that produce or use packaging, or sell packaged goods, shoulder a lot of responsibility in this area. Collectively, we need to step up to the plate. We need to take responsibility for reducing the amount of packaging waste that goes to landfill, not only by increasing the amount we recycle and recover, but by reducing the amount of packaging produced in the first place.
What the law says
Of course there are already laws that govern what packaging businesses should be doing. Under European Union rules brought into UK law, businesses that use or handle packaging or packaging materials are subject to strict quotas for recycling and recovery if they:
turnover more than £2 million per year and
handle at least 50 tonnes of packaging in a calendar year.
In this context, the term packaging is defined as any and all products made of any materials that are used to hold, protect, handle, deliver and present any type of goods from raw materials to finished products wherever they are in the manufacturing and sales process. It could be a cardboard box containing a product, cushioning material packed around products in transit, or pallets on which large quantities of goods are moved around for transportation.
To handle packaging, covers everything from:
- manufacturing raw materials to be used in packaging
- converting these raw materials into packaging
- putting goods into packaging or packaging around goods
- supplying packaged goods to an end user who will remove the packaging
- using the likes of pallets and other materials to handle goods in transit
- hiring or lending packaging
- importing packaging materials or packaged goods into the UK.
It doesnt include packaging or packaging materials used internally within a business, or that which is exported or given to someone else to export.
Obligated businesses must fund the recycling and recovery of specific weights of materials determined by their business activity and the law by buying electronic Packaging Recovery Notes (ePRNs) or Packaging Export Recovery Notes (ePERNs).
Businesses that dont comply face criminal prosecution and heavy fines, which have in the past topped £250,000.
A shared responsibility
But what of businesses that arent covered by this law?
All businesses must comply with a certain duty of care when it comes to the storage and disposal of waste products, but if we are serious about the need to reduce landfill, improve air and water quality and save natural resources, all businesses large and small need to be actively looking for ways to improve their recycling and recovery credentials at every available opportunity. Leadership must come from board level, but implementation will require it to be embedded in the minds of individuals on the factory floor.
We need to be thinking differently, not only seeking ways to recycle or recover our existing waste, but actively looking for new and different ways of packaging goods: using new materials, finding innovative ways to protect goods using less packaging, and empowering individual employees within our businesses to offer their ideas and do their bit for the environment.
Reducing your businesss environmental impact is no longer a nice-to-have, its a must-have, and a factor that is increasingly noted by consumers, buyers, suppliers and partners alike. To survive and thrive in todays world, businesses must adapt, embrace the new and put real effort into sustainability so we can collectively make a difference for the businesses of tomorrow.
PALLITE® is a 100% recyclable, lightweight and strong range of packaging manufactured by The Alternative Pallet Company Ltd. Four times lighter than wood or plastic, and just as strong, the companys pallets, layer pads and collapsible pallet boxes are made from paper manufactured from trees specifically grown for the purpose. PALLITE® offers an alternative to traditional packaging materials that saves on total distribution cost and reduces carbon footprint.
Companies replacing traditional pallets with PALLITE® products benefit from significant weight savings. For example, a company using 10 pallets per day for 50 weeks of the year would save around 50 tonnes of waste per year, compared with using equivalent wooden or plastic pallets.