The UK Packaging Pact has appointed five new industry experts to lead groups that will help shape the future of sustainable packaging across the UK.
The appointments come three months after the ten-year programme was launched by the environmental charity to help businesses reduce packaging waste, improve recycling and support the move to a more circular economy.
The new chairs are Tesco head of packing and food waste strategies James Bill, who chairs the Scale Reuse and Refill Industry Expert Group. M&S head of packing Clare Edgar will chair the Harmonising Data IEG. Robinson Packaging head of sustainability Jamie Riley, who chairs the Optimising Packaging Industry Expert Group. Suez recycling and recovery UK chief technical development & innovation officer Stuart Hayward-Higham will oversee the Industry Expert Group in support of Circular Infrastructure Investment; and British Plastics Federation director of packaging Brian Lodge, chair of the Films and Flexibles Industry Expert Group.
Related Story
The expert groups will focus on reducing unnecessary packaging, expanding reuse and refill schemes, improving recycling infrastructure, harmonising packaging data and tackling hard-to-recycle films and flexible packaging.
Wrap head of packaging Helen Bird said: “I am delighted to welcome our Chairs who will provide essential steer on priority workstreams across the Packaging Pact’s Industry Expert Groups.”
She added that the group would help ensure the programme continues to move forward and that its work meets the needs of industry.
Bull said: “Reuse is a key element in delivering a shift to a more circular economy but we know that achieving meaningful progress can only be realised through industry collaboration. I am delighted to be chairing this expert group as we start to lay the foundations for implementing a reusable packaging model and begin the transition to circularity.”
The chairs will also join the UK Packaging Pact Advisory Board, with the first expert group meetings due to take place in the coming months.
WRAP also said Diageo, L’Oréal UK and Ireland, and Pilgrim’s Europe have joined the Pact, with membership now representing around 90% of the UK’s grocery retail market.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
