The brewing and pub industry is fully committed to packaging optimisation and reducing waste. The BBPA operates a ground-breaking not-for-profit packaging waste compliance scheme, Sustain, for members and other drinks companies. We also work with a range of stakeholders to support effective practices in reducing packaging waste and increasing recycling.
More recently, the BBPA and SBPA have been working on understanding the effects which deposit return schemes will have on the on-trade. The BBPA consultation response is available to members on request. The SBPA will continue to work closely to monitor deposit return schemes which are to be implemented in Scotland.
14 March 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.”
18 December 2018
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed the ambitious new governmentResources and waste strategy announced today by Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The new strategy, which hopes to create a more circular economy, includes the elimination of avoidable plastic waste. Commenting on the new waste strategy, Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “We welcome this new waste strategy and the brewing and pub sectors will be working closely with the Government to achieve its aims. “We support a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and crucially the strategy’s recognition of the need for a UK-wide system, which is vital to avoid unnecessary costs and significant fraud risk in what is an integrated UK supply-chain and market for drinks containers. “Reducing food waste is also a key element of the strategy and although this will be yet another cost pressure for pubs, which already face tight margins, our sector recognises the role we have to play. This is why we continue to work with WRAP and are committed to the Courtauld Commitment 2025 to reduce food waste. The BBPA recently signed up to WRAP’s Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, which helps organisations to take targeted action to reduce their food waste. “The proposed reforms to Producer Packaging Responsibility (PRN) are likely to lead to significant cost increases as producers will bear the full cost of recycling or disposing of waste costs and so it is important that brewers and pubs, especially the smaller ones, are not overburdened by the changes. The strategies recognition that SMEs will need to be protected is therefore reassuring.”
Links to relevant panels, as well as resources and links offering advice on recycling, plastics and the Sustain packaging partnership.