This year’s Food Packaging Association Environment Seminar was held at Nottingham University and sparked some, not unsurprisingly, lively debate.
The session was co-chaired by Martin Kersh, FPA Executive Director, and Mark Pawsey MP, Chairman of the All Party Committee on Packaging and featured panel speakers Richard Swannell, Director of WRAP, John Isherwood, Head of Sustainability at Pret A Manger, Oliver Rosevear, Energy and Environment Manager at Costa Coffee as well as our own Peter Goodwin from the Simply Cups Recycling Scheme.
Peter spoke of how the new paper cup collection scheme was an example of what can be achieved commercially when businesses work together.
“Increasing the volume of high quality recyclate and reducing contamination of the waste stream by educating consumers will raise the value of the recovered resource”, commented Peter.
Head of Sustainability at BaxterStorey, Mike Hanson, echoed Peter’s call and challenged the industry to engage more with operators by talking to them about their needs, especially as they operate in client premises.
“Manufacturers needed to talk more to contract caterers and engage with them over product design in order to raise recovery rates”, added Mike.
