Plastic cutlery ban in England from 1 October

A ban on plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene trays is coming into drive from 1 October. It applies to retailers, takeaways, meals distributors and different hospitality companies.

Corporations that proceed to make use of these single-use plastics after 1 October could possibly be fined and, sure, native authorities will probably be finishing up inspections.

Nonetheless, these companies can nonetheless use plastic containers, trays and wraps. The federal government says that these things are classed as ‘packaging’ and can be handled below separate guidelines that shift the associated fee away from native authorities and on to packaging producers.

If this is applicable to your online business, you solely have a few days left to make use of up your current inventory.

The plastic restrictions in focus

The ban on these things will embrace:

• On-line and over-the-counter gross sales and provide
• Objects from new and current inventory
• All varieties of single-use plastic, together with biodegradable, compostable and recycled
• Objects wholly or partly constituted of plastic, together with coating or lining

There are exemptions on most objects included within the ban.

Plates, bowls and trays

You’ll be able to nonetheless provide single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays if both of the next apply:

• You might be supplying them to a different enterprise
• The objects are packaging (pre-filled or stuffed on the level of sale)

Examples of one of these packaging embrace:

• A pre-filled salad bowl or prepared meal packaged in a tray
• A plate stuffed on the counter of a takeaway
• A tray used to ship meals

Polystyrene foods and drinks containers

You’ll be able to nonetheless provide single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays if both of the next apply:

• You might be supplying them to a different enterprise
• The objects are packaging (pre-filled or stuffed on the level of sale)

Examples of one of these packaging embrace:

• A pre-filled salad bowl or prepared meal packaged in a tray
• A plate stuffed on the counter of a takeaway
• A tray used to ship meals

There aren’t any exemptions on cutlery and balloon sticks.

Extra data on the ban could be discovered on the federal government web site

In case you have any questions in regards to the plastic cutlery, plate and polystyrene ban, contact Plastics.Session@defra.gov.uk.

Many small companies unaware and unprepared

A current survey from the British Impartial Retail Affiliation (BIRA) warned that many small companies had been nonetheless unaware of, nor ready for, the adjustments. CEO Andrew Goodacre stated: “We must always all wish to do what we will, nevertheless it must be affordable for the enterprise.” 

Robin Clark, international sustainability director at Simply Eat, instructed the BBC that the UK takeaway business used round 500m single use plastic containers final 12 months. The corporate urged the federal government to make extra sustainable packaging options extra extensively obtainable and inexpensive for companies and customers.  

Learn extra

Plastic Packaging Tax – what does it imply for my small enterprise? – From April 2022, companies will probably be liable to pay Plastic Packaging Tax. We discover what it’s and whether or not it is going to have an effect on you

What’s Prolonged Producer Duty? – Prolonged Producer Duty places the accountability for recycling packaging supplies again onto the producer or importer. It is going to come into impact this 12 months and value UK companies a further £1.4bn in compliance charges

Inexperienced enterprise suggestions from Deborah Meaden – Deborah Meaden shared three high suggestions for any small enterprise proprietor who desires to run a inexperienced enterprise on the SME XPO in London