The British public is increasingly confused about what products can be recycled, with recycling rates falling for the first time since last year, demonstrates a recent survey by Virido, a waste management firm.1
According to the study, 60% of UK householders are not confident they put waste in the right bins and fewer than one in five (16%) feel recycling labelling on product packaging is easy to understand.
This is despite UK consumers recognising the need for recycling. Almost half of those questioned stated that the government’s target to recycle 50% of its waste by 2020 is not ambitious enough.
“UK businesses can make it easier for consumers to recycle products by producing less waste in the first place and using the same common types of packing materials,” said Antalis Packaging.
Antalis Packaging believe recycling should not be so complicated and that by making some simple changes to packaging procedures companies can help to cut out some of the confusion for end-users.
Jason Poxon, Antalis Packaging Technologist, said: “It is a real shame to see that although the British public avidly supports recycling, the majority are confused about what and how to recycle. From our experience, a big issue lies in the vast array of packaging materials and formats in today’s saturated market which can make recycling a minefield, not to mention the tendency for over-packing.”
“It may sound obvious but by simply choosing the correct size and strength boxes would reduce the amount of protective cushioning or void fill that would be required to protect goods in transit. Also, looking at what materials are being used for protection, corrugated cardboard, or Geami paper wrapping for example, would allow for all packaging to be recycled in one bin.
“Manufacturing technology can also play a helping hand, such as automated box sizers, that measure a void in a box, crease the sides and then fold a box perfectly to fit the contents inside, effectively removing the need for traditional void fill material.
“There are so many options available but a lot of the solutions require new packaging designs or packing methods, which can be complicated. If you are unsure where to start, we offer a free Smart Audit where our experts will review your current packaging materials and procedures and suggest ways you can improve.”
