Cheshire’s Green Economy Gets a Boost with £58M Plastics Recycling Facility

£1M Grant Approval Paves the Way for 80 New Jobs and £4.5M Annual Economic Injection

Cheshire’s ambitions for a greener, more sustainable future have taken a major leap forward as local leaders approve a vital funding boost for a cutting-edge plastics recycling facility in Ellesmere Port.

In a move that aims to save around 18 tonnes of packaging waste from landfill every year, all QV tube products are now being transitioned from laminate to LDPE packaging. Laminate packaging cannot be recycled in Australia due to the recycling facilities not being able to process the components of the laminate, whereas LDPE can easily be recycled by customers in their kerbside recycle bins. 

This change signifies the company's unwavering commitment to sustainability, and reflects Ego's determination to implement changes that positively impact the environment.

The new partnership will see the Australian arm of the global ice-cream brand avoid approximately 604,745kgs of fossil fuel plastic per month, and will see the iconic Baskin-Robbins plastic pink spoon transformed into a pink wooden spoon made from FSC-certified birchwood.

The partnership with BioPak goes beyond packaging, with Baskin-Robbins also contributing to environmental protection and community initiatives through the BioPak Give Back Fund.

Designed specifically for outdoor venues, stadiums, events, clubs, and pubs where reusable cup systems have not yet been implemented, BioPak’s Beer BioCups provide a “better alternative to the large volume of disposable cups made from conventional plastic” used at such venues.

It is estimated that between 50,000 and 80,000 beer cups are used on an AFL game day, while cricket match days see the usage of around 20,000 to 50,000 beer cups.

Borealis Unveils High-Performance rLLDPE with 85% PCR Content for Sustainable Flexible Packaging

Borealis is making bold strides in advancing the circular economy with the introduction of Borcycle™ M CWT120CL, a cutting-edge recycled linear low density polyethylene (rLLDPE) grade, purpose-built for non-food flexible packaging applications. Containing an impressive 85% post-consumer recyclate (PCR), this new grade is a significant leap forward in Borealis’ efforts to accelerate sustainable solutions in packaging.

The SBC was formed by the British Beauty Council (BBCo) in 2021, and the launch of The Great British Beauty Clean Up on 3 March coincides with the start of Waste Week.

The British Beauty Council website states that the campaign is ‘designed to encourage increased beauty recycling rates and educate consumers on reduce, reuse, refill, as well as correct use of household recycling for beauty’. The Council’s interactive recycling map is also being revamped. This directs consumers to recycling schemes across the UK, where consumers can drop off ‘hard to recycle’ packaging.

WRAP and IFWC Launch WRAP EU to Drive Circular Living Across Europe

In a major step toward a more sustainable future, global environmental action NGO WRAP has partnered with the International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC) to launch WRAP EU, a dedicated initiative aimed at tackling food waste, sustainable fashion, and plastic pollution across the European Union.

Boots Expands Blister Pack Recycling Scheme Nationwide, Rewarding Customers for Sustainability

In response to overwhelming customer demand, Boots has rolled out its innovative blister pack recycling scheme to more than 800 stores across the UK, making it easier than ever for customers to recycle empty medicine and vitamin packaging while earning rewards.

At Billerud we embed sustainability in everything we do and when developing new high performing packaging materials, we know we have a joint interest with converters and brand owners to replace plastics with fossil-free materials. While ConFlex HeatSeal has already been successfully introduced in the bedding segment by a major Swedish furniture brand, its potential extends far beyond into further applications in industrial and hygiene packaging.

Slice Design were tasked with redesigning the packaging for Pure Maple, a British Canadian brand dedicated to bringing 100% pure Canadian maple syrup to the UK. Founded by Canadian expats who were surprised by the lack of authentic maple syrup in the UK market, Pure Maple was created to share the rich, pure taste they grew up with. Now with its newly certified organic status, Pure Maple continues to offer a syrup that is 100% pure, sustainably sourced, and produced in Canada, ensuring an authentic flavour with every drop.