The Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) has raised attention to ongoing issues with the UK’s single-use plastic ban (SUP), pointing out that some retailers and online sellers continue to sell items included in the prohibition. According to the FPA, certain sellers are using loopholes, such as labeling plastic cutlery as reusable, to avoid restrictions. The FPA is pushing for stronger enforcement to address this mislabeling, which it is seen as undermining the legislation’s ultimate goal of reducing plastic waste.
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Loopholes in Labeling and Continued Non-Compliance
The FPA states that loopholes in the SUP ban are enabling non-compliance, with some vendors naming single-use items as reusable to skirt the law. This practice allows products that are not designed for repeated use to continue circulating as “reusable” items. According to the association, these mislabeling practices undercut efforts by companies that adhere to the rules, putting compliant businesses at a disadvantage. The FPA has advocated for a more stringent approach to address this, especially to prevent misuse of terms that allow single-use items to slip through the cracks.
New Defra Guidelines on Reusable Products
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has taken steps to clarify the definitions of “single-use” and “reusable” to address the confusion and prevent exploitation of these terms. According to the recent guidelines, an item is considered single-use if it is not intended for multiple uses. Conversely, products labeled as reusable must be safe for repeated use in their original form. Defra also emphasized that simply rebranding a single-use item without modifying it does not change its classification under the law.
To further address these loopholes, the FPA has proposed that products should only be classified as reusable if they are part of a structured reuse system, such as one involving deposits or industrial cleaning. Given current limitations, items like plastic cutlery do not meet these criteria, leading the FPA to suggest restricting such items from foodservice providers unless they are used on-premises.
Conclusion
The FPA continues to advocate for stricter enforcement to uphold the single-use plastic ban, pressing for action to eliminate loopholes that allow certain businesses to circumvent the rules. The association has expressed that it should not be left to fund enforcement efforts, such as those through Trading Standards, to ensure compliance with national regulations. Through these initiatives, the FPA highlights the importance of clear, enforceable rules to support sustainable practices in the foodservice industry and ensure a fair marketplace for compliant businesses.
