The BBPA and its members are serious about addressing any issues that have an adverse effect on our environment. We work on a range of areas to improve efficiencies and to help ensure a sustainable future for all.
04 April 2018
14 March 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
03 January 2018
18 February 2019
The British Beer & Pub Association has today welcomed the launch of various consultations by the Government to cut waste and plastic, but has urged that a pragmatic approach is needed to ensure that objectives are achieved in the most cost-effective manner that work across the UK. Responding to the launch of the consultations, including a consultation on a proposed Deposit Return Scheme, Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “Brewers and publicans fully support efforts to cut waste and plastic and so we welcome these consultations. However, a pragmatic approach is needed to ensure waste is reduced in a cost-effective manner that works across the UK. “We support a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles, but we also believe that enhancements to the current recycling schemes which collect cans and glass from residential and business properties can ensure we continue to achieve the high targets set by government. “There is currently a separate consultation on a DRS in Scotland, but the BBPA believes that a UK-wide system is crucial to making a DRS a success. This would avoid unnecessary costs and significant fraud risk in what is an integrated UK supply-chain and market for drinks containers. Evidence from other countries also shows that an industry-run, not-for-profit, scheme would likely deliver the most cost-effective results. “The proposed changes to Producer Responsibility Obligations will, according to the consultation, lead to a tenfold increase in the cost of PRNs (Packaging Waste Recovery Notes). This is significant for our industry as the beer and pub sector are major contributors to the current regime and will now bear the full cost of collection, recycling or disposing of waste. It is therefore important that any changes brought about by these consultations fully take into account the impact on businesses of all sizes, many of whom in our sector are already operating under significant regulatory burdens. We’ll be making this clear in our responses to these consultations.”
03 December 2018
The British Beer & Pub Association has today supported Government action to ban plastic straws and stirrers. A ban would build on voluntary initiatives by the pub sector to remove plastic straws and stirrers. Voluntary initiatives to reduce and remove plastic straws from the pub sector have so far been extremely successful, they have highlighted the potential benefits of the removal of plastic straws and reflected consumer demand for this outcome. BBPA members have driven voluntary initiatives to find plastic straw alternatives, from practical initiatives such as only offering plastic straws on an ‘on-demand’ basis, to the development of straws made from seashells. Along with other industry bodies and in particular the British Institute of Innkeeping, the BBPA has supported the Last Straw campaign, to reduce the numbers of plastic straws used in pubs across the country. To ensure consistency, the BBPA believes a plastic straw ban should be applied across the food and drink sector (both in retail and hospitality) and cover all types of plastic straws, including compostable and biodegradable plastic straws. However, the BBPA has argued that groups with accessibility needs must be able to access plastic straws. These should not only be available in pharmacies, but also hospitality outlets so that those with accessibility needs can continue to enjoy the use of pubs as much as everybody else. Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “It is important we all do our bit to reduce plastic waste and that is why we welcome the Government’s proposals to ban plastic straws and stirrers. To help pubs reduce their plastic waste we have already produced guidancefor licensees as well.”