What are the BPF Doing to Help Improve the Sustainability of Plastics?

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) are constantly working on a range of initiatives which reduce not only the amount of energy used to decompose plastics but also the amount of litter that plastic is creating. Find out how they are helping to improve recycling efforts and make plastics much more sustainable in this blog. Sustainability Committee This newly formed committee consists of members who all specialise in different areas of sustainability and aim to maximise this for plastic usage. The organisation is constantly exploring the ‘natural step framework’ to understand the sustainability of the plastics industry and promote the importance of how we use and discard plastic materials. The Sustainability Committee also ensure that plastic waste is used as efficiently as possible instead of being put in general waste bins. Marine litter is currently a dominant focus for the group and plans to reduce and prevent this are in play. RecoMed RecoMed is a scheme currently being practised in 36 different NHS hospitals across the UK. It involves collecting PVC medical devices like oxygen tubes and masks to limit the amount of plastic waste. The scheme started in November 2019 and over 21 tonnes of plastic hospital equipment has already been collected. RecoCard is a similar scheme that has recently been put in place to collect and recycle PVC gift cards. Climate Change Agreement Participants of this scheme benefit from the climate change levy exemption which is an environmental tax charge on the energy used by businesses. The scheme aims to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by responding to the challenges of climate change. Operation Clean Sweep The Clean Sweep aims to reduce plastic pellet loss across the environment. It involves making sure that plastic pellets and powders are handled with care when going through the manufacturing process, to ensure they don’t end up in our oceans. Companies can sign up to the scheme to show they will follow the regulations and adhere to playing their role in protecting aquatic environments. Plastics Industry Recycling Action Plan (PIRAP) This action plan aims to increase the recycling of plastics in many ways: Increase the collection of plastics Improve plastic sorting Develop the end markets for recycled plastics Set up in 2015, the project aimed to meet a target of recycling 57% of plastic packaging. There are many other projects that the British Plastic Federation are involved with to help improve plastic sustainability and protect the environment in local areas. You can contact us at Rayda to find out more about the sustainability of our products here.

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