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Eco-effective improvements for product packaging
Post date: 26 January 2023
Our reduced packaging and eco-friendly wrapping solutions
It is well documented in the media, the need to improve the recyclability of plastic waste. In the UK many of the big supermarket chains and suppliers are working with and supporting the ‘Flexible Plastics Fund’, which is scheme to get everyone in the flexible plastic supply chain, to bring back flexible packaging.
Flexible plastics fund
In the UK only 6% of flexible plastics is currently recycled and the fund wants to significantly improve this. Here is how it works:
- Businesses who own brands that use plastic packaging invest in the fund to become partners of the scheme
- Participating retailers host flexible packaging collection point in-store where individuals can drop off their flexible plastics for recycling
- Then transported to an approved recycler who transforms it into
something new
- The new products generated are certified PRNs (packaging recovery notes) proving it’s been recycled
- Recycling ‘Flexible Plastics Fund’ pays for the PRNs, which are passed onto partners.
Improving our circular economy
The scheme is a significant move forward in the recognition and action required to improve plastic waste and improving our circular economy. The ‘circular economy’ keeps resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them while in use, then recovers and regenerates products and materials at the end of each service life. This also emphasises the need to still use plastics for product packaging but improve the life cycle and disposal process.
Sustainably sourced resources
WRAP, a non-profit organisation who work with governments, businesses and citizens to create a world where resources are sourced and used sustainably are one of the key drivers of this process to create a sustainable circular economy. They are doing this by:
- Helping businesses re-invent how they design, produce, and sell products across the entire supply chain through voluntary agreements.
- Help citizens rethink how we use and consume products, reducing wastes and increasing re-use and recycling, through our consumer campaigns.
- Redefine what is possible with products and materials after first use, through market and infrastructure development and improved collections.
Example of overwrapper that uses recyclable and biodegradable film
Products wrapped with biodegradable and recyclable film
A need for product packaging
Product packaging plays an integral role in enhancing product appeal, shelf life, protecting the product carton from damage, securing the integrity of the product by giving the consumer peace of mind that the product hasn’t been tampered with.
We, at Marden Edwards, are the world leader in the development, design, manufacture and supply of product packaging machinery. Over 11,000 systems have been manufactured in our UK factories and supplied into more than 150 countries worldwide.
Products wrapped with paper banding strip
Reduced packaging banding machine
Recyclable and biodegradable materials
We have our role to play in contributing to the circular economy, responding to the market demand for eco-effective product packaging solutions, we continuously work with material suppliers to ensure our overwrapping and banding machinery range have the capability to work on the latest recyclable and biodegradable materials. Our latest range of banding packaging solutions meet the market demand for reduced packaging for both presentation and transportation needs.
Overwrapper used to wrap products using biodegradable paper.
Products wrapped with biodegradable and recyclable paper and film
Recognising our role
In summary, the need for products to be wrapped for either presentation or transportation purposes will remain a requirement throughout the supply chain but is clear the disposal process of plastic and the need to create a circular economy must be improved.
The introduction of the ‘Flexible Plastics Fund’ and the non-profit organisation ‘WRAP’ working with businesses is a positive step towards improving the end user recycling process and creating a sustainable circular economy without completely removing plastics from the supply chain.
We recognise our role in this process and we continually work with material suppliers and expand our product packaging machinery range to meet the market demand for reduced packaging and using more eco-effective carton wrapping materials.