Survey suggests consumer support for compostable packaging
July 02,2021
According to a new poll commissioned by TIPA, most British people want to get rid of plastic packaging on food and switch to compostable packaging.
The survey also found that most people (83%) support a tax on plastic packaging to curb plastic waste. It found that the public strongly supports compostable packaging as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic packaging.
Among those asked, 83% would prefer to pack their food in compostable rather than traditional plastic packaging for environmental reasons.
More than eight in ten (83%) agree that taxes aimed at reducing the amount of plastic packaging used by food and beverage manufacturers are a good idea in principle, while 80% believe that taxes should differentiate compostable materials from traditional plastics.
The Yonder survey of 2,085 British adults commissioned by TIPA, a leading producer of compostable materials, was conducted on the occasion of the government’s plan to introduce a tax on plastic packaging, which will be introduced in April 2022. The poll showed strong support for the tax in principle-however, many activists and the public expressed concern that the proposed tax did not provide subsidies for compostable packaging solutions.
Currently, the tax includes compostable packaging as if it were traditional polluting plastic. This is different from many other countries, such as Italy, Ireland, and Japan, which have policies that promote compostable materials.
Some people believe that including compostable packaging and traditional plastics in the same tax will defeat the purpose of compostable materials.
TIPA CEO and co-founder Daphna Nissenbaum (Daphna Nissenbaum) said: "The plastic packaging tax is an opportunity for the UK to become a global leader in combating plastic waste. However, it has failed to achieve innovative packaging solutions. Solutions, such as compostable packaging, are essential for us to curb plastic pollution.
"Compostable packaging provides a sustainable solution for things such as food contact plastic films that cannot be recycled for many reasons. Instead, they are removed from recycling facilities and sent to landfills or Incineration. The public opinion survey showed that the public clearly supports compostable packaging. The government listens to this and recognizes that it is important to establish a separate tax system for compostable packaging."
The poll was conducted after politicians exerted increasing pressure on the government, asking the government to develop stronger infrastructure and policy support around compostable packaging. Last week, Baroness Bakewell delivered a speech in the House of Lords, calling on the government to recognize the role of compostable materials in reducing plastic pollution. Colleagues are now ready to consider revising the plastic tax to exclude compostable materials.
Baroness Bakewell said: "Plastic film is extremely difficult to recycle. Even if it is recycled, it is rarely recycled into the new film. The idea of a "circular economy" on the packaging is just an illusion.
"In contrast, compostable films can be a suitable substitute and are more sustainable than traditional films from recycled resources. The unintended consequence of the plastic tax is that these innovative solutions have been penalized unfavorably. I am to the environment The amendments to the bill will ensure that independently certified compostable films are treated separately and differently from traditional plastics."
Sian Sutherland, the co-founder of A Plastic Planet, said: "There is no panacea to solve our plastic crisis; on the contrary, as we move to better and more sustainable materials and systems, there will be countless alternatives. Consumers have already Correctly recognize that compostable materials have a place in our future.
"When compostables are used as pipes to bring food waste into the food waste and composting system, this is a double whammy for the environment. They help us create more compost for hungry soil and help reduce plastic in the soil. Pollution. For ministers, it doesn’t make sense to insist on a policy of not recognizing the beneficial uses of compostables and treat them in exactly the same way as traditional plastics, which will only harm our soil and the ocean.”