Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 140
Better data is essential for delivering a circular economy.
Conclusion
Better data is essential for delivering a circular economy. More effective information will enable an understanding of the scale of the problems faced, the composition of the plastics put on the market and what systems are needed to help society dispose of or recycle products more sustainably. Upcoming government reforms are a good start and particularly we welcome previously announced plans to bring forward a simple, mandatory “Recycle” “Do not recycle” labelling systems for plastic waste: this will communicate clear information to consumers.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that better data is essential and key to informing policy development and welcomes the support for mandatory recyclability labelling on packaging.
Paragraph Reference:
140
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government agrees with the Committee that better data is essential and key to informing policy development. We welcome their support for the government’s proposals to introduce mandatory recyclability labelling on packaging. The government is already planning to take action that aligns with the Committee’s recommendation. In the government’s consultation on the introduction of mandatory digital waste tracking in 2022, we set out that we would seek to use the waste tracking service to incorporate any future waste information recording requirements, including for pEPR. We expect that technology will continue to develop that will enable the tracking of products/materials through the supply chain; this includes advanced technologies to enable the more effective sorting of materials for reuse and recycling. We will continue to monitor these technologies and consider how, through schemes such as EPR, businesses can be encouraged to adopt them. Requirements to be introduced as part of pEPR will mean that businesses will report more information on packaging and at a more granular level. This includes by type of packaging – primary, secondary and tertiary – and for packaging of consumer products by format (bottles, tubs, etc) and by plastic polymer. We will also require data to be reported on reusable packaging.