Focus on biodegradable and degradable packaging.
20 September 2007 ‘ The environmental impact of biodegradable and degradable packaging is seen as a key issue for the UK ‘s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and its implementation of the Government’s waste strategy.
The news follows a warning from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) that bioplastics need to be introduced with care by retailers and brand owners. (See PRW.com 12 September 2007 ).
Defra has published plans for a waste and resources evidence programme, which it says will help implement the Government’s Waste Strategy for England 2007, published in May of this year.
The programme, the second of its kind, has been compiled by stakeholders to ensure the policies are ‘evidence-based, not evidence-backed,’ says Defra. The first programme, set up in 2004, generated over 80 projects and had a budget of up to ‘5m a year.
The research topics listed by Defra in ‘The Waste and Resources Evidence Strategy 2007-2011’ include: what are the environmental impacts of biodegradable and degradable packaging; what collection methods lead to high quality recyclates, and whether high collection costs are offset by environmental benefits; and how to best measure the carbon impacts of waste prevention and management.
Defra says its research and evidence projects are commissioned through open competitions on the department’s website.
The nature of the projects will remain flexible, according to the needs of its waste policy makers, says Defra.
The Waste and Resources Evidence Strategy 2007-2011 can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/wip/research/index.htm
Reference: http://www.prw.com
