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NEWS STORY
CONSUMER LAUNCH OF NEW RECYCLING LABEL
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| June 24, 2009 |
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To coincide with Recycle Week, a new universal on-pack recycling label is being launched to consumers by leading retailers. For the first time, it will provide customers with standardised information on whether packaging can be recycled. The single, industry-supported label replaces the potentially confusing range of symbols previously used.
Companies representing more than a third of UK retailing (both food and non-food) have already signed up to the label and many more are expected to. Suppliers and brand manufacturers, including Tate and Lyle and Weetabix, have also joined the scheme.
The initiative builds on retailers' existing green commitments. It is being highlighted to consumers in Recycle Week to boost UK household recycling rates by giving customers the information they need to ensure more of the material that can be recycled is recycled.
The scheme will be operated by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) under a company called OPRL (On-pack recycling label) Limited. WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) will monitor changes in local authorities' recycling capabilities which will determine the labelling category each packaging materials fall into.
The new on-pack recycling label will have three categories depending on how likely it is that a customer's local authority will accept specific packaging materials for recycling:
- Widely recycled;
- Check local recycling;
- Not currently recycled.
Stephen Robertson, British Retail Consortium Director General, said: "Customer confusion is the biggest barrier to improving recycling rates. Despite progress, significant amounts of material that could be recycled are still going to landfill.
"Retailers are taking the lead in developing this new label because they recognise they're uniquely placed to work with customers and change behaviour.
"Already retailers responsible for over a third of UK spending are committed to the label along with product manufacturers and the figure's growing all the time.
"Our mission now is to achieve widespread understanding of the label, helping more customers to do the right thing with used packaging."
Notes to Editors:
The new label indicates three levels of packaging recycling:
- Widely recycled: This means 65 per cent or more of local authorities collect that packaging type in their area
- Check local recycling: this means 15 per cent to 65 per cent of local authorities collect that packaging type in their area
- Not currently recycled: this means less than 15 per cent of local authorities collect that packaging type in their area
Copies of the label are available from the BRC press office.
To find out more about Recycle Week – visit:
http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/Guide_to_using_the_Recycle_Week_resources.4537fe08.7202.pdf
To find out more about the On-Pack Recycling Label – visit:
http://www.onpackrecyclinglabel.org.uk
So far the following companies have signed up to the label:
- Associated British Foods UK Grocery
- Aldi UK
- Allmand-Smith Ltd
- ASDA Stores Ltd
- B&Q Plc
- Bart Spices
- Boots
- Britvic Soft Drinks plc
- Dr. Oetker (UK) Ltd
- Duchy Originals Ltd
- Focus (DIY) Limited
- Gloucestershire County Council
- Good Ventures
- H J Heinz Company Ltd
- Hain Celestial
- Humdinger Ltd
- InBev
- John Lewis Partnership
- Kellogg's
- Marks and Spencer plc
- National Sales and Marketing Ltd (CLS)
- Premier Foods
- Rachels Dairy Ltd
- Robert Dyas Holdings Ltd
- Sainsbury's Supermarkets Limited
- Tate & Lyle
- Tesco Stores Ltd
- The Co-operative Group
- The Home Retail Group
- Waitrose
- Warburtons Ltd
- Weetabix Limited
Media Contacts: BRC Press Office 020 7854 8924 Out of hours 07921 605544
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