Companies have been urged not to turn their backs on the use of recycling labels following the government’s controversial move to withdraw plans to make them mandatory in the UK .
The Grocer revealed last month that Defra had put the plans on hold to avoid potentially unnecessary costs to businesses and to prevent a clash with Europe over similar reforms being considered by the EU.
Concerns have been expressed that the move could deal a major blow to efforts to boost stalling hosuehold recycling rates, with the mandatory labels, due to have come into force in 2027, having been seen as a key plank in the government’s plans for Extended Producer Responsibility.
At a meeting this week Defra bosses urged brands to continue using or to start using recycling labels on their products on a voluntary basis.
Meanwhile Grocer guest editor Seb Munden, the Wrap chair and former Unilever boss, urged companies to “keep going” with their labelling efforts, until more clarity emerged over the situation with Europe.
“Defra are encouraging voluntary labelling to continue, and labelling on a voluntary basis to help inform households,” he said.
“They can continue for the foreseeable future, until the EU then publishes what they’re going to do, and then the department will review it.
“The message is just keep going with schemes like OPRL until further notice.”
Jude Allan, Interim managing director at OPRL, whose labels had been said by Defra to have been compliant with its plans for the expected mandatory scheme, before it was shelved, said whilst the requirement for recycling labels on primary and shipment packaging would not now go ahead until further notice, she was encouraged that Defra had highlighted the need for brands to continue to use labelling to help customers recycle in the interim.
Allan described Defra’s move top shelved mandatory labels as “a slight set-back” but she added: “Unless consumers know that packaging can be recycled (and what they need to do to support that), it is unlikely that it everwill be recycled.
”That communication is where OPRL’s main role sits within the wider context – a responsibility that OPRL takes extremely seriously. Our surveys of consumers find that our labels are widely recognised, understood and acted on.
“We do not want to lose momentum when it comes to providing clear advice to householders about how to dispose of their packaging.”
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“OPRL will be liaising with Defra and will continue to inform our members around the latest developments, as well as continuing and developing our services to our members. We look forward to working with the packaging value chain on labelling for EPR as future arrangements are clarified.”
Robbie Staniforth, innovation and policy director at Ecosurety, added: “Whilst its disappointing that mandatory labelling won’t come in as anticipated, it is pleasing to see the government are removing barriers that would stop legislation being laid next month.
“For the EU, this issue was a major sticking point and its vital that the law passes and that the new system goes live in 2025.
“We believe that packaging producers will continue the trend of labelling their products to help citizens know if it can be recycled or not, on a voluntary basis. Eventually, labelling does need to be mandated to create a level playing field between packaging producers and make it as simple as possible for citizens.”
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