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Pira Consulting

Sustainability

Policy and Legislation

Around the world companies are finding legislative requirements increasingly challenging.  Let us help guide your organisation through the regulatory maze and produce tailored, business-focused guidance documents, compliance processes and checklists for you.

Packaging Waste Regulations

In the UK, the recovery and recycling of packaging waste has been regulated since 1997.  The background to the UK regulations is the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, which aims to reduce the amount of packaging waste and to encourage reuse and recycling.

The UK's system of compliance with the regulations is unique within the EU.  As in other Member States, it is based on the Producer Responsibility principle, encouraging producers to take responsibility for their packaging. However, in the UK the responsibility is shared by the whole supply chain with specific obligations depending on the activities performed. This means that any UK company or group of companies with a turnover of £2m or more and handling over 50 tonnes of packaging a year is required to pay a proportion of the cost of recovering and recycling packaging.

We can help businesses comply with the Regulations while becoming more environmentally focused, more resource efficient, and at the same time more profitable. Let us:

• Help you understand the business implications of the legislation;
• Support you in meeting your obligations under the Packaging Waste Regulations; and
• Assist you in the data collection and submission as part of the Packaging Waste Regulations.

Essential Requirements

The Essential Requirements as part of the Packaging Waste Regulations require manufacturers, importers and owners of packaging to consider various issues with regards to packaging design.  The requirements ensure that the minimum amount of packaging is used; noxious or hazardous substances in packaging are minimised; and that the packaging can be recovered through recycling, incineration with energy recovery or composting / biodegradation. In addition, the requirements set heavy metals limits for cadmium, mercury, lead and hexavalent chromium.

The Essential Requirements can confuse and cause worry to many companies. We can help businesses comply with the requirements and at the same time implement environmental considerations in the packaging development stage. Let us:

• Provide you with the knowledge and understanding to formulate practical and cost-effective policies and strategies;
• Assist you in complying with the legal aspects of the Essential Requirements; and
• Support you in implementing ecodesign principles with focus on the Essential Requirements into your product development processes.

Governmental policy development

We carry out research for governmental and non-governmental organisations to arm them with the facts they need to make the best environmental policy decisions.  For example, we undertook the recent influential study for the European Commission to investigate the environmental and social performance of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.  This study will help inform the development of packaging legislation in Europe for years to come.