Berry Global has announced that its Heanor site in Derbyshire has become one of the first in the UK to achieve the European Certificate for Plastics Recycling (EUCertPlast). Five more of its plastic film manufacturing and recycling facilities are also currently undergoing the accreditation process.
By investing in certification, said Berry, the company is helping customers to conform with the requirements of the upcoming Plastics Tax law in the UK by providing a reliable source of certified recycled packaging materials.
A plastic packaging tax is an environmental tax designed to provide a financial incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging. In the case of the UK legislation, any plastic packaging that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic, both UK manufactured and imported, will be subject to the new tax, which will be charged at a rate of £200 per tonne.
“With the imminent arrival of the new tax, our customers need to understand the origins of recycled material in their packaging,” explained Berry bpi’s External Affairs Director, Mike Baxter. “This not only applies to the authenticity of the recycled material but also to its quality, consistency and traceability to ensure it meets the new requirements while delivering the highest levels of performance.”
Currently, Berry is able to supply certified recycled plastic from six of its UK sites. Certified recycled plastic provides assurance to customers that they are buying plastic packaging with genuine recycled content, thus enabling them to claim exemption from the tax. “Our independent, third-party accreditation through EUCertPlast gives customers peace of mind,” added Mike Baxter.
The EUCertPlast certification works to the European Standard EN 15343:2007, which means that best practices are being followed throughout the recycling process for pre- and post-consumer waste in terms of stock management of incoming waste, recycling process, quality management, staff training and qualifications, traceability in supply chain and environmental protection. The chain of custody provides full details of the origins of the waste material and the waste management company from which it was sourced.