Data from the National Packaging Waste Databased (NPWD) for Q2 2022 showed that the UK achieved the highest volume of plastic packaging on record, according to Valpak.
So far, the data for 2022 suggests that over 600,000 tonnes of plastic will be reprocessed in the UK if current volumes are maintained. This compares to 2021 when a total of 593,000 tonnes of plastic was recycled in the UK.
Valpak commercial operations analyst James Armitage said: “These latest figures show that things are moving in the right direction. Higher volumes of material managed in the UK result in a more robust data trail and confidence that material is being processed responsibly. At the same time, PRN funding provides substantial investment in UK infrastructure.
“However, there is still room for improvement across the industry. Valpak has always favoured UK reprocessing – in 2021, 70% of our plastics PRNs were sourced from UK businesses, compared with a UK figure of 53%.
“Since 2017, we have invested over £200 million into UK recycling infrastructure through our PRN purchasing, and over £120 million for plastic specifically. As the market adapts to greater demand for UK-sourced material, we look forward to seeing others follow our lead.”
