Did you know?

Packaging, such as crisp packets, are often made up of a mixture of materials including paper, plastic and metal, and this makes them recycling difficult. There is also a lack of facilities and technology for recycling mixed packaging.

Packaging makes up around one-third of the average household dustbin. It is often necessary to protect the product to prolong its lifespan.  However, over-packaging does occur, especially for marketing purposes. Basic foods such as bread and rice are rarely over-packaged, while convenience foods often have two or three layers of packaging.

Reduce

Try and avoid over-packaged items and buy loose products wherever possible. Take your own bags to the supermarket.

Reuse

Buy products in refillable containers such as toiletries from the Body Shop or cleaning liquids by Ecover. Buy milk in glass bottles from the milkman.

Recycle

Try to avoid buying over-packaged goods where possible and when choosing a product pick the packaging material that is easiest for you to recycle locally. Remember,  there is a difference between materials which it is technically possible to recycle and materials which you can recycle though your clear sack and recycling bank service.

National Contacts

The Industry Council for Packaging & the Environment (INCPEN)
SoanePoint, 6-8 Market Place, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2EG
www.incpen.org
www.thinkcans.net

Novelis Recycling (formerly ALCAN)
www.novelisrecycling.co.uk

British Plastics Federation (BPF)
6 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London EC2A 3JE
t 020 7457 5000
www.bpf.co.uk

Alupro (Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation)
1 Brockhill Court, Brockhill Lane, Redditch, B97 6RB UK
t 01527 597757 f 01527 594140
www.alupro.org.uk

British Glass
9 Churchill Way, Sheffield S35 2PY
t 0114 290 1850
www.britglass.org.uk