With UK and EU packaging legislation now fully underway, the task for businesses is two-fold. At the most basic level, brands need to source the correct data and comply with reporting and fee deadlines. However, many are also looking to reduce the financial impact of compliance or prepare for mandatory EU gradings. This involves a thorough assessment of recyclability and materials.
The cosmetics industry faces specific challenges. Many of the items produced are often too small for recycling systems to capture and sort, which can mean they are classed as non-recyclable. In the UK, this results in higher pEPR fees; under PPWR, any packaging that is considered less than 70 per cent recyclable will be banned from 2030. As other sectors look to switch materials to meet recyclability criteria, cosmetics businesses must also consider how to make packaging viable within the scope of the product.
The first step is to gain a clear picture. While PackUK’s recyclability assessment methodology, or RAM, sets the criteria for the UK, the process can still be confusing – OPRL’s assessment tool has already been used to help brands with over 8,000 recyclability assessments, and we also receive high levels of questions from members.
Recent OPRL research demonstrates the importance of clear communication with consumers. This will become even more important as the EU shifts towards reuse and refill.
We are anticipating a definitive announcement on labelling in the near future and, once the PPWR label is finalised, the UK can move towards its own aligned label. To simplify the process of adapting to PPWR labelling, OPRL is developing an EU labelling tool, to provide brands with a simple, intuitive solution. Consumer engagement will make a huge difference to the quality of the material being recycled, which is what we are all working to achieve.
