Plastic is an incredibly versatile material that brings many benefits to society.

It has a range of unique properties that enable our modern lifestyle.

However, recent discoveries, research and media coverage has left no doubt about the increasing volume of plastic waste in our environment and the damage that irresponsibly discarded plastic can do.

Independent studies have estimated that ca.3.7 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced in the UK each year of which ca.60% have been attributed to packaging and 40% to non-packaging plastic waste.

Of this 3.7 million tonnes, only 1.35 million tonnes is collected for recycling: 700,000 tonnes collected and processed in the UK, 650,000 tonnes are exported.

The remaining 2.45 million tonnes of UK plastic waste either goes to landfill or incineration. 

It is clear that this needs addressing and several initiatives are already in place.

The plastics industry, businesses, government, consumers and wider society all want the same thing: to reduce plastic waste and leave the environment in a better place for generations to come.

There is now an opportunity for the UK to create value from plastic waste, develop and implement new technologies and business models in order to enhance its plastic recovery infrastructure, develop more sustainable businesses, and establish and embed a culture that re-uses and recycles used materials wherever possible.