When it comes to recycling, there\u2019s little doubt that the British public have a great deal of concern about single-use plastics. Programmes such as Blue Planet and the more recent Drowning In Plastic have pushed the issue right to the top of many people\u2019s worry list, but there still seems to be a lot of confusion over what materials can and can\u2019t be recycled.<\/p>\n\n
A recent report by international packaging company Ball Corporation found that while 86% of British adults are worried about plastic pollution, almost a fifth (18%) don\u2019t understand what they can and cannot recycle, a figure that rises to 26% of 18-24 year olds. Going into the detail, almost a third of all British adults (31%), including 41% of millennials, state that not enough drinks are available in non-plastic packaging.<\/p>\n\n
Part of the problem appears to be the public\u2019s confusion over what can and can\u2019t be recycled thanks to a bewildering array of symbols on household packaging. There are currently eight basic recycling symbols, with a number of variations of the plastics symbol indicating the type of plastic the packaging is made from.<\/p>\n\n
A survey by Which? earlier this year found that while 73% of the public understood that the Mobius Loop symbol meant that the packaging could be recycled, that figure plummeted to 32% when they were asked what the same symbol with \u2018PET\u2019 underneath meant. And when asked what a crossed-out circular black arrow meant, only 6% knew that the packaging is only being recycled by 20% of councils.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWe know that people want to reduce the waste that goes to landfill and recycle more but are often left baffled by a confusing array of symbols and inconsistent labelling,\u201d said Nikki Stopford, Director of Research and Publishing at Which?. \u201cWe want the government and manufacturers to act now to bring about clear, simple and consistent labelling and to make that compulsory to help consumers know what can be recycled and how to recycle it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
While the debate about single-use plastics rages on, paper and cardboard continues to be the public\u2019s most popular choice for packaging. In a recent Two Sides survey, an impressive 78% of people like paper and cardboard packaging because it\u2019s biodegradable, while almost half (48%) prefer the \u201ctouch and feel\u201d of paper and cardboard when compared to other packaging materials.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cPaper-based packaging provides many benefits, from protecting the products and preventing waste to optimising logistics in the supply chain,\u201d says Steven Stoffer, Group Vice President Development of Smurfit Kappa. \u201cMost importantly, it\u2019s 100% recyclable and has the least impact on the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The high recycling rate of paper and cardboard (currently 83%,\u00a0the highest of any packaging material) and the public\u2019s clear preference for this type of packaging has meant that there\u2019s an increasing demand across the world. Around 60% of cartons in Europe are now made from recycled cardboard and recycled paper provides 88% of the raw material for new corrugated boxes.<\/p>\n\n
Meanwhile, the demand for paper and cardboard packaging also has a number of positive effects on climate change. Since forests play a central role in the initial production of this recyclable resource, sustainably managed forests are growing at a fantastic rate. Between 2005 and 2015, European forests grew by 44,000km2<\/sup>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0an area larger than Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n Taken with its strength, flexibility and aesthetic beauty, paper and cardboard provides brands and companies with a sustainable packaging solution, one that\u2019s only going to increase in popularity and use.<\/p>\n\n \u201cThere is increasing pressure on companies to be more sustainable and this is having a transformative effect on the packaging industry,\u201d says Steven Stoffer, \u201cWith the floating mass of non-biodegradable, primarily plastic packaging floating in our oceans, paper-based packaging is increasingly being seen as an attractive alternative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The range of recycling symbols and confusion over what can and can\u2019t be recycled is contributing to the British public\u2019s concerns about packaging. But with paper and cardboard, there\u2019s no confusion \u2013\u00a0just basic common sense. When it comes to recycling, there\u2019s little doubt that the British public have a great deal of concern about single-use […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1388,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1654,1653],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-atervinning","category-forpackningar"],"yoast_head":"\n