Why recycling flexible plastics needs a clearer plan
The UK is preparing to collect more flexible plastic packaging, such as crisp packets, bread bags, wrappers and pouches, but experts warn of a lack of recycling capacity and clear strategic direction.
A new briefing from the second Everyday Flexible Plastic Packaging Recycling Assembly calls for stronger government direction to stop flexible plastics being collected with good intentions but then sent to landfill, incinerated, exported or stored because there is not enough domestic recycling capacity.
Flexible plastic packaging is part of daily life. It is used for food, toiletries, cleaning products and household goods because it is light, cheap and practical. The problem is that its recycling remains limited. Although more than 215 billion items of flexible plastic packaging are placed on the UK market each year, only a small proportion is currently recycled.
The issue has become more urgent following the delay to mandatory flexible plastic collections in England. These collections were expected in 2027 but have now been pushed back to April 2030. Scotland and Wales are still working towards earlier rollout. The delay gives councils and industry more time to prepare but the briefing argues that this time must be used to build the right infrastructure and sustainable end markets.
What needs to change?
- Use more recycled material.听Recycled plastic should be used in a wider range of products, not only in perfect closed-loop systems.
- Stop the loss of recycling capacity.听The UK has already lost substantial plastic reprocessing capacity and needs greater investment in sorting, processing and reprocessing facilities.
- Make recycling financially worthwhile.听Policy and funding need to support businesses that invest in domestic recycling, rather than making it cheaper to use virgin plastic or export waste.
The briefing also highlights the need for clearer national planning. Local authorities, waste companies, retailers, recyclers and manufacturers all need to know what the UK is trying to achieve, how much material should be recycled domestically and what support will be available to make this happen.
Evidence shows that people want recycling to work and that they expect the material they separate to be recycled. For that trust to be maintained, the system behind the scenes must be fit-for-purpose. The Assembly鈥檚 message is that the UK now has a short window to turn delay into action and build a recycling system that can handle everyday flexible plastics in a credible and sustainable way.
About the Everyday Flexible Plastic Packaging Recycling Assembly
罢丑别听Everyday Flexible Plastic Packaging Recycling Assembly听is an independent multi-stakeholder impact and engagement initiative designed to support knowledge exchange on accelerating sustainable transitions in the design, use and recovery of UK flexible plastics.
The Assembly is convened by听,听听and Sociology at the University of Manchester, as part of his University of Manchester Hallsworth Research Fellowship,听鈥�鈥�.
The Assembly brings together expert voices from across the value chain for intensive discussion and knowledge exchange, including representatives from waste management companies, material recovery facilities, local authorities, national and international industry bodies, major retailers and brands, mechanical and chemical recyclers, start-ups and academia.
Publication details
听is published by the听University of Manchester.听The briefing is authored by听Dr Torik Holmes, Sustainable Consumption Institute and Sociology, in collaboration with听Dr Tom McDonald, Head of Environmental Sustainability and Engagement, School of Natural Sciences;听Michaela Kiernan, Research and Business Engagement Manager;听Dr Jair Esquivel, Research and Business Engagement Officer;听Bea Howarth, Research and Business Engagement Coordinator; and听Dr Emily Wynne, Research and Business Engagement Coordinator, all at the听University of Manchester and听.
The briefing draws on the discussions and findings of the听second Everyday Flexible Plastic Packaging Recycling Assembly, convened by Dr Holmes as part of his University of Manchester Hallsworth Research Fellowship.