Campaigners call for action on reusable packaging and cutting food waste
Reuse experts on Tuesday released research which suggests that adopting reusable packaging for 30% of goods in the UK grocery retail sector could deliver £136 million in annual savings for producers.
The packaging extended producer responsibility regulations (Perp), which came into force in January, require producers to pay for the management of packaging waste.
The report, commissioned by sustainability consultants GoUnpacked, found that producers could save between £314 million and £577 milllion annually in overall system costs compared to single-use packaging, accounting for the costs of transitioning.
It also suggests that shifting to reuse packaging could reduce both the products' carbon emissions and the waste from packaging materials previously used by 95%.
The research was developed with input from an advisory panel made up of stakeholders such as the Environment Department (Defra), Biffa, Tesco, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap), Innovate UK, and WWF.
It explored multiple product categories, such as coffee, ready meals and shower gel, using various reuse scenarios to provide an evidence-based picture of the potential impacts of reuse.
A 30% reuse target was found to be achievable by converting just 18 priority product categories, using 30 standardised repackaging types.
The report also outlined recommendations for industry and the Government to collaborate on a transition plan to reach the target by 2035, by co-ordinating retailers, supply chain logistics, waste management and local authorities.
Rob Spencer, Co-Founder of GoUnpackaged, said: 'It's time to move on from debate and focus on the facts: Reuse works.
'Our study shows that switching just 30% of goods to reusable packaging is a huge opportunity for producers and retailers to win – environmentally, financially, and even societally, creating jobs and reducing waste.
'That's why we're calling on the industry and Government to work together and take action to move towards 30% reuse, starting now. There's no excuse to delay tackling the single-use packaging crisis any longer.'
In a joint statement, the advisory panel said: 'The modelling results show, for the first time, an evidenced view of reuse working at scale in the UK for grocery retail, enabling industry and government to make insightful decisions about how to move forwards to co-create the necessary transition to reuse in the UK.
'We look forward to bringing the value chain together in June to kick-start the discussion of the next practical steps towards wide-scale reuse in the UK.'
It comes after campaign group Wrap and Tesco called for urgent action to reduce global food loss and waste as part of a collaboration to tackle the issue across global supply chains through a series of initiatives.
The two organisations cited the World Economic Forum, which estimates that food loss and waste also costs the global economy 936 billion US dollars (£693 billion) a year, when more than 783 million people go hungry every day, and a third of humanity faces food insecurity.
Tony McElroy, Tesco's head of circularity campaigns, said: 'We remain focused on driving forward action across our entire supply chain and in collaboration with our key partners as we accelerate progress to halve our food waste.'
Catherine David, chief executive of Wrap, said: 'The need to reset our global food system is imperative as our population grows and the climate changes.
'Food security will become a priority for governments as the real impacts of climate change bite harder in coming years, and tackling waste is a key step they must take.'
Wrap also warned that governments are falling far short when it comes to outlining their plans to cut emissions in line with UN targets, known as nationally determined contributions.
It found that just 12 of the 195 countries to attend the UN Climate Conference, Cop29, in November had committed to reducing food loss and waste in their plans.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Best times to get yellow sticker items at Tesco, Asda and Aldi
The 'reduced' section of your local supermarket may be home to some real treasures - but you'll have to be quick Many shoppers use 'yellow stickers' when doing their food shopping since, if you time it right, the discounts can be substantial. There are families who've managed to get their hands on everything from meat to bread for 10p, while others have even bagged free products by timing it right. The yellow sticker bargains, sometimes known as 'whoopsie deals', tend to be found in the 'reductions' sections at most major supermarkets. They're essentially clearance items and can include anything and everything from a damaged tin of tomatoes to a bag of cookies that are approaching expiry. There are usually three main reasons why supermarkets make reductions on food - if an item has a short shelf-life, if it's superficially damaged or if it is no longer being sold, such as Easter Eggs out of season. Sometimes, however, it's simply a case of too many of a single item in stock, or the grocer is trying to shift goods before the end of the weekend. Whatever the reason, you just need to time it right. Marco Farnararo, CEO and co-founder at has shared when coveted yellow stickers appear at Britain's biggest supermarkets. He explained each store has its own strict schedule for marking down items near their sell-by dates. The biggest reductions happen during specific windows - usually late afternoon or early evening when managers need to clear stock fast. He said: "Most people spot yellow stickers while shopping, but hardly anyone knows there's a science to when they appear. Knowing exactly when to visit each supermarket could save families hundreds of pounds on their grocery bills." Tesco According to Marco, Tesco starts with small markdowns from 8am. However, the real savings of up to 90% don't happen until around 7pm at larger stores and 4pm at Express branches. He added: "Tesco uses a step-by-step system throughout trading hours. Morning discounts might only be 20-30% off, but evening reductions can reach 90% on fresh items that would otherwise be thrown away." Sainsbury's Sainsbury's yellow sticker routine looks completely different. The first price cuts appear around 1pm but don't expect much of a discount then. The best deals arrive after 7pm when prices can drop by up to 75%. Asda For yellow sticker deals at Asda shoppers should aim for 7pm. Marco said: "Asda does one big round of reductions in the evening instead of smaller markdowns throughout the day. "You can find fresh food suddenly cut by 50-70% if you turn up at the right time." Morrisons Morrisons beats most rivals to the punch, with the first yellow stickers appearing around midday. Shoppers get the biggest price cuts between 5pm and 7pm when staff make final reductions. Marco said: "The fresh food counters at Morrisons are gold mines for yellow stickers. The fish, meat, and deli sections can see huge reductions in the evening." Aldi and Lidl According to Marco, Aldi and Lidl break all the rules compared to traditional supermarkets. The discount chains put out their red-sticker reductions (their version of yellow stickers) first thing in the morning, with Aldi starting at 8am and Lidl even earlier at 7am. He added: "The discount supermarkets work completely differently. Their products already sell quickly because of the low prices, so they reduce items at the start of the day rather than the end." Waitrose Waitrose begins markdowns around 2pm, with final yellow stickers appearing from 6pm onwards with discounts up to 80%. Co-op Co-op stores vary widely depending on location, but most make the final reductions in the hour before closing. Marco also shared his top tips for getting your hands on yellow sticker items. He said: "Sunday evenings are absolute prime time for bargain hunters. With shorter trading hours and no deliveries the next day, stores are desperate to clear perishable stock." The insider urged shoppers to mind their manners when hunting for reduced items. He added: "Staff putting out yellow stickers often face swarms of eager customers. Being patient and polite makes their job easier and creates a better atmosphere for all." While yellow sticker bargains can slash your food bill, Marco stressed you should only buy what you'll actually use, adding: "The biggest saving comes from not wasting food. Only buy reduced items you'll definitely eat or can freeze before they expire."
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS NSW plunges $178BILLION into the red in latest budget - as it reveals its latest spending spree
Charting a path back to surplus, the treasurer compiling Australia's largest state budget has advised caution amid global uncertainty as he trumpets stability. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey unveiled the $128billion 2025/26 state budget on Tuesday focused on housing, essential workers and protecting vulnerable communities. 'Investment in our essential services is up, debt is down, and NSW is back on the path toward surplus,' Mr Mookhey told reporters in the budget lock-up. 'This budget has been put together carefully, deliberately, at a time of great global uncertainty, and sends a big message that NSW is stable and NSW is open for business.' Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said the budget is about reform and accelerating growth. 'Our focus over three budgets has been on controlling what we can in the context of the budget. 'That has resulted in very low expenses growth ... at the same time as we are delivering these important reforms,' she said. Remaining below target to build 377,000 new homes by 2029 as part of a national housing agreement, the state will make an unprecedented intervention in the housing market. A $1billion revolving fund will provide pre-sale guarantees as developers seek financing to begin construction. The funds will go towards low-to-mid-rise developments, some of the most challenging projects to deliver under current market conditions and the kind of homes the state needs to tackle housing affordability constraints, Mr Mookhey said. The government will guarantee 5000 homes in the hope of supporting the construction of 15,000 more. It is a step to broaden its response to the housing crisis, moving into the mainstream market after previous budgets focused on supporting priced-out frontline essential workers and building more social housing. 'We are very careful about what projects we are going to guarantee,' Mr Mookhey told reporters. But it is not the 'plan B' promised following the failure of a plan to build 25,000 homes at Rosehill Racecourse. A record $1.2 billion child protection package will meanwhile increase support and protection for young people in the state's care. Allowances for foster carers will increase for the first time in decades. Almost $50 million will go to building or upgrading residential care homes for children with complex needs, and $191.5 million will support caseworker recruitment and retention. Mr Mookhey said the package was funded 'from the savings created by no longer having to pay labour hire firms to care for kids in motels'. A deficit of $3.4billion is forecast for the 2025/26 financial year, falling to $1.1billion in 2026/27. Modest surpluses of $1.1billion are projected in the following two years. Mr Mookhey acknowledged 'a lot needs to go right' in order to return to surplus but the state's finances were improving. Net debt is $120billion while gross debt, hitting $178.8 billion by next June, remains proportionally lower than other states outside resource-rich Western Australia. But the budget papers note increasing uncertainty from unpredictable global policy including US President Donald Trump's tariff regime. Other drags on the budget include workers compensation, which the government has been unable to reform before premiums increase on July 1, and natural disasters. Disaster relief spending has leapt tenfold since the 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires, when compared to the six years prior, now costing $1.6 billion annually. WINNERS: * Indigenous Australians - The Minns Labor Government will allocate $246.8 million over the next 4 years through an additional $202.4 million in the 2025-26 Budget to Close the Gap to improve the lives of Aboriginal people in NSW * Workers - real wages forecast to grow 0.6 per cent a year after declining 0.1 per cent a year since 2020 * Foster carers - an immediate 20 per cent boost in allowances * Property developers - Australian-first pre-sale guarantee supporting $1 billion of projects plus $83.4m to speed up planning approvals * Apprentices - $40.2 million for up to 90,000 fee-free apprenticeships * School students - $10 billion more for public education over next decade, $9 billion for school infrastructure over four years * Justice - $856 million to better support victims, prosecute child abuse claims faster and boost domestic violence services LOSERS: * Sydney drivers - no extension of $60 weekly toll 'cap' while revenue from government-owned toll roads nearly doubles over four years once the Western Harbour Tunnel opens. * Feral animals - $9.3 million for pig and deer culling program that has killed 230,000 animals over two years * Service NSW - the shopfront for government services faces a $70.8 million budget cut including to capital works * Dodgy officials - corruption and police watchdogs' budgets boosted by nearly 20 per cent
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Starmer to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035 at Nato summit
The target, expected to be formally agreed by Nato countries at a summit in The Hague this week, includes spending 3.5% on 'core defence' and another 1.5% on 'resilience and security'. It represents a significant jump from the current 2% Nato target, and from the UK Government's aim of spending 2.5% of GDP on defence from 2027 and 3% at some point after the next election. But the figure is in line with the demands of US President Donald Trump, who has called for Nato allies to shoulder more of the burden of European defence. Ahead of his trip to the Netherlands, Sir Keir Starmer said the increased spending target was 'an opportunity to deepen our commitment to Nato and drive greater investment in the nation's wider security and resilience'. He said: 'We must navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility, speed and a clear-eyed sense of the national interest to deliver security for working people and keep them safe.' The Government expects to spend 1.5% of GDP on resilience and security by 2027. The details of what counts towards that target are due to be set out during this week's summit, but it is likely to include spending on energy and border security as well as intelligence agencies. But increasing core defence spending to 3.5% will not happen until 2035, with at least two elections likely to take place before then. Nor would Downing Street say how the increase would be paid for, with a spokesman describing the figure as 'a projected target' that allies would review in 2029 when Nato carries out its next capability assessment. The Royal United Services Institute has estimated that increasing core defence spending to 3.5% by 2035 would cost £40 billion a year more than keeping the figure at 2.5%. Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Tories welcomed the higher Nato target, but said the Government's commitment was 'both unfunded and a decade away, when the threat we face is real and imminent.' He said: 'The Chancellor failed to set a path to 3% in the spending review, and this is another announcement without a plan. 'Instead of using smoke and mirrors to inflate defence spending, Labour must get to 3% this parliament and back our country's defence with a fully funded plan.' Sir Keir's announcement came as the Prime Minister prepared to fly to the Netherlands for the two-day Nato summit against the background of both the war in Ukraine and escalating hostilities in the Middle East. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Sir Keir would continue to press for a diplomatic solution to the Israel-Iran crisis. He will also urge allies to help secure a 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine by showing strength and providing Kyiv with 'the support it needs to defend itself against continued Russian aggression'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend the summit, but not take part in the main discussions of the North Atlantic Council. Ahead of the summit, Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte described the move to spend more on defence as a 'quantum leap' that would make the organisation 'a stronger, a fairer and a more lethal alliance'. But it was reported on Sunday that Spain had reached a deal that would see it exempted from the 5% target. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain would be able to keep its commitments to the 32-nation military alliance by spending 2.1% of GDP on defence needs. Tuesday will also see the publication of the UK's national security strategy, which is expected to call for the whole of society to become more resilient and recognise national security 'means more than it used to'. The document will tie together a series of reviews commissioned by the Government, including the recent strategic defence review, a review of the Aukus alliance with the US and Australia and an audit of relations with China.
