Organised by Gabrielle Maughan at the Cut, this was an illustrated talk given by the director of Spectra Packaging, Joe Maynard, Emily Curry, a representative from our local Co-Operative store, and Lee Hart representing Biffa.
Spectra opened with the material advantages of plastic over glass or aluminum, other materials used to hold liquids. Due to lack of government direction and enough subsidy, virgin plastic was preferable to use rather than recycled plastic, although some recycled plastics were used by Spectra for specific items. Spectra estimated that 45% of all plastic in the UK was recycled. According to a government source: Almost half of all UK plastic waste is incinerated for energy recovery, with 25 percent sent to landfills and just 12 percent recycled in UK reprocessing facilities. The remaining waste is shipped abroad.”https://www.statista.com/ However, of all plastic, packaging achieves the highest recycling rate of around an estimated 40%. Not nearly as good as in Germany or other countries, which is 90%, and instigates a much more nationwide and effective separation of materials.
The Co-operative representative spoke about the stores sustainable objectives.
Nicky Rowbottom and Gabrielle organised an answering of questions from the floor, and finally Chris described how back in 2020, Halesworth became a Plastic Free Town, before this status froze with COVID, and like sleeping beauty is waiting to be awoken and the batton taken on.
