Chase Plastics urges film manufacturers to embrace the plastic packaging tax challenge

With little over 16 months left until the introduction of the UK Plastic Packaging Tax, leading UK recycler Chase Plastics is urging polythene film manufacturers and converters to prepare now.

While 2020 has been an unprecedented year for business disruption, the Packaging Tax is still scheduled to take effect in April 2022. With the time required to develop packaging that contains at least 30% recycled content elongated due to the pandemic, the window available for developing packaging films – that will not attract the £200 per tonne tax – is narrowing fast.

Chase Plastics CEO David Harris said: “The Government published draft primary legislation on 12 November, paving the way for the Packaging Tax. As the implementation of the Packaging Tax draws near, it is important that manufacturers prepare now.  We are committed to supporting our customers with this challenge and are already seeing rapidly-growing demand for our Recothene range of recycled polythene pellets… We would urge anyone who has not yet started the process to do so now.”

He continued: “Developing products, running trials and securing customer acceptance takes time and the restrictions necessitated by the pandemic can impact this further. Our concern is that some manufacturers may not leave sufficient time to select, trial and stock materials with which to upgrade their product range, so that it does not incur the Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022.”

“There is also the issue of material availability, high-performance recycled LDPE must be produced from the highest quality scrap which is a finite resource. Companies who are late to embrace the challenge of 30% recycled content may struggle to procure sufficient recycled raw materials to meet the performance levels required. Chase Plastics has developed our business model to provide customers with consistent and reliable supply so they have confidence to plan their operations…

“Our processes and established supply chains ensure the highest standards of material consistency and quality, combined with reliable supply underwritten by our EUCertPlast accreditation. We understand the issues customers face with upgrading their product range. We can deliver recycled polythene that avoids any compromise of our customers’ product quality, plant efficiency or productivity and that enables them to meet both their commercial and sustainability objectives.  We are well set up to support customers but we would encourage companies not to leave it too late.”