Resources

A summary of USA packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) developments in during 2023.

The 2022 Plastics Market Situation report updates on the amount of plastic packaging Placed On the Market (POM), collection rates, recycling rates, and provides an update on key developments over the past few years highlighting the challenges and opportunities ahead.

• Fall in plastic packaging placed on the market
• Movement away from rigid plastic packaging towards lightweight and flexible plastics in the consumer sector.  
• Domestic recycling of plastic has increased to 53%.
• Planned recycling capacity increases will be a boost but will still fall well below current levels of plastic packaging consumption.  
• Collection rates are improving for plastic packaging with more flexible plastic, rigid plastics, plastic bottles and PTTs being collected at kerbside. 

This report details a high level market study into non-mechanical recycling technologies.

Over the last decade, the circular economy has been a huge success story. In the UK it has grown by 20% between 2014 and 2019. 

While roughly equal numbers of jobs are held by men and women across the UK, only 25% of jobs in the circular economy are held by women. This understates and undervalues the role of women who frequently undertake unpaid activities such as volunteering within the sector.

In late 2022, WRAP, in conjunction with reusable packaging experts Unpackaged, brought together members of The UK Plastics Pact to deliver a series of industry roundtables. The roundtables considered the barriers and opportunities for category-focused collaboration, with the aim of driving increased uptake of reusable packaging across a selection of high impact product categories. The following report summarises the insights and recommendations gathered through this rich, industry focused series of dialogues.

The project demonstrated the potential to revolutionise waste recycling in a range of countries taking AI technology used in Europe,  and using it in the developing world.

Indian company Dalmia, working in partnership with Interface, aimed to demonstrate that through mechanical recycling, single-use plastic waste, destined for landfill or incineration, could be turned in to high value applications such as injection moulded car components and packaging. 

New legislation in Chile to ban single use plastics has led to the food service industry seeking alternatives.  

This project trialled and tested consumer attitudes and market appetite for a compostable sachet and pipet. 

Read how the project helped improve the collection and use of low value plastics such as flexible film packets in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. 

Discover how circular waste management practices can contribute to sustainable development. 

The project has optimised the process which puts waste milk back into high grade products like shampoo sachets.  

From new voluntary agreements in Colombia and Denmark to engaging citizens in 12 countries through Food Waste Action Week, our Annual Report gives an insight into what WRAP was busy working on in 2022/23.