A global assessment of recycling and sustainability labelling on plastic packaging claims to have found that only 17% of assessed labels give consumers quality information to make informed recycling and purchasing decisions.
The research from the UN Environment Programme, Consumers International, and the One Planet network reportedly found that 20% of the 30 worldwide labels assessed were given a negative score by consulted experts. 17% were positive, with the rest receiving mixed or neutral results. In response to these findings, the authors of the report have created five global recommendations for action with the aim of engaging business, policymakers and standard setters in creating better plastics labelling to make sustainability “the easy choice for consumers.” The recommendations are as follows:
- Businesses should follow the Guidelines for Providing Product Sustainability Information in their plastic packaging communications.
- Global consistency when it comes to definitions relating to the content and reusability of packaging or disposable items.
- The definitions and technical requirements used in standards related to recyclability, compostability, and biodegradability should better reflect real-world conditions and be more attentive to accessibility and consumer understanding.
- The use of the ‘chasing arrows’ symbol should be restricted to indicating recyclability.
Informative and verified recycling labels should be adopted and their proper use enforced.
Source: Packaging Europe
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