Get clued up on what materials you can and can’t use from October.

Disposing of packaging correctly is key!

You may find it complicating as all four nations are taking different approaches and introducing different rules at separate times. Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England, where ever your place of work, we recommend you check with your local authority and government before making decisions. Our advice comes from an environmental aspect, as we’d love to encourage businesses to be greener while avoiding any plastic tax.

Material Guide.

Single Use Plastic

All single use plastic cutlery, plates, straws and stirrers will be banned across the entire UK from October 2023.

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Expanded Polystyrene

All expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) food containers & cups will be banned by the end of 2023 across the UK. 

PE Lined – Polyethylene

Packaging coated with polyethene can be recycled, but is still classed as single-use plastic.

Packaging such as cups and boxes have classically been lined with PE, which is to make them waterproof. This means the containers will take longer to degrade and aren’t compostable. Not many local authorities recycle this material. If you have access to a specialist recycling facility, these items can be a great alternative and solution.

Be aware – this is classed as a single-use plastic item. 

PLA Plastic – Polylactic acid or polylactide

PLA straws will be completely banned across the UK this year.

Made from renewable plant-based materials, PLA has been a hot topic for manufacturers and without a doubt, you’ve had a coffee in a PLA-lined cup at some point. It is a bioplastic and holds significant bragging rights over other plastics. PLA produces 80% less emissions than other plastics in production. In the right facility, it can be easily recycled. It’s worth mentioning that PLA can be pricey, and disposing of your PLA waste can add to the cost. It is not domestically compostable, so you will need to pay for a commercial composting collection. If PLA products end up in a landfill, they can be just as damaging to the environment as toxic plastics.

Oxo – degradable plastic

The discussion to ban Oxo-degradable plastic has come up a lot in the last few years, but it’s not leaving just yet!

Don’t mistake this for biodegradable plastic. Oxo-degradable is only partially degradable. Made with a mix of plastics to imitate biodegradation, this material will quickly break down but leaves behind fragments of plastics (microplastics), which can take hundreds of years to break down. As this product is no more environmentally friendly than regular old plastic, it creates strong concerns for its future on the market. On the other hand, if you are able to commercially dispose/recycle this material, it can be a great product with many user benefits.

For precise laws and regulations in your area click here for gov.uk.