Plastico has announced a partnership with Closed Loop Environmental Solutions (CLES) to launch the UK’s first “closed loop” compliant plastic cup.
The cup, which will be released in January 2018, will include a financial contribution from the supply chain that will be invested into creating a robust collection and recycling system. This is with the long-term aim of retrieving all cups placed by Plastico in the market.
Plastico head of UK and European sales John Reeves said: “We see real value in these used materials and have a responsibility to put in place closed loop schemes that transform these assets in a number of innovative ways.”
“This is a complex issue and difficult to execute industry-wide. This is why we have partnered with Closed Loop Environmental Solutions who have a proven capability in designing and implementing customer and market programmes, and with particular expertise in recycling plastic bottles and paper cups.”
Plastico has invested £5 million into its UK-based facilities, which has increased the capacity to meet future growth aims and achieve the lowest carbon footprint within its sector.
According to Plastico, this strategy will help lead the plastics industry towards a more self-sufficient solution, with the result of significant drops in the quantity of single-use plastics diverted to landfill, and even more so, in the oceans.
The material from the “closed loop” cup will be produced into non-food related plastic products, with the long-term goal of being able to incorporate the recycled material in Plastico’s range of catering items.
CLES director Peter Goodwin said: “We are delighted that Plastico has taken the lead in the UK that will now set the precedent for others to follow.
“While the Plastico agreement will initially cover plastic cups and straws, we are looking to expand the Closed Loop ‘compliant’ range to cover all food and beverage packaging.”
CLES is hoping to make the use of its “closed loop” logo on packaging the industry standard, demonstrating that organisations within this supply chain are contributing to the investment in collection system, which the company says is “lacking in the UK”.
Expectations from this, according to CLES, is that when one investment has been made, the result will allow the move from a linear to circular model, and will become self-funded.
