Government launches plastic call for evidence: The green economy reacts – All the reaction to the Chancellor’s unveiling of a wide-ranging new call for evidence on how to tackle plastic waste – Plastic green economy recycling - Arhive

As hads been widely expected, Chancellor Philip Hammond today formally launched a call for evidence on how the government can use the tax system and other measures to crack down on plastic waste.

BusinessGreen rounds up all the reaction from across the green economy.

Chancellor Philip Hammond:

“[We will] follow up on the vital issue of plastic littering and the threat to our oceans, with a call for evidence to support us in delivering on our vow to tackle this complex issue.

“It will look at the whole supply chain for single use plastics, at alternative materials, reusable options, and recycling opportunities.

And it will look at how the tax system can help drive the technological progress and behavioural change we need. Not as a way of raising revenue. But as a way of changing behaviour and encouraging innovation.

“We’ll commit to investing to develop new, greener, products and processes, funded from the revenues that are raised. And as a downpayment Mr Speaker, we’ll award £20m now from existing departmental budgets to businesses and universities, to stimulate new thinking and rapid solutions in this area during the call for evidence.”

Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas, MP:

Chair of London’s Environment Committee, Leonie Cooper AM, said:

“The announcement from the Chancellor today regarding a consultation on single-use plastics is welcome – but now is really the time for action, not more words.

“The lack of policy or tax incentives is disappointing to say the least.

“Our Committee is meeting with supermarkets and industry experts on Thursday morning to discuss how we can move the agenda forward urgently on single-use plastics. We’ll also discuss alternatives to plastic and biodegradable plastic.

“London knows it needs to do something quickly, but the government is dragging its feet on this issue. By the time they get around to doing something about the plague of plastic, masses more of it will have been buried, burnt and affected marine life.”

Paul Taylor, CEO of FCC Environment:

“We welcome the government’s commitment to look more closely at the issue of single-use plastics, which represents an important step forward in combatting plastic pollution. However, more needs to be done in order to ensure that the UK addresses its shortage in waste infrastructure, which is hampering our ability to process and reuse our waste here in the UK.

“The waste management sector currently faces a series of challenges, including the Chinese ban on the import of foreign low-grade plastic waste and mixed paper wastes, and the gate fees associated with exporting refuse-derived fuel, costing the UK over £900m since 2011. It is therefore imperative that the government reduces UK reliance on external markets to help manage waste, by supporting the construction of UK manufacturing plants and recycling facilities in order to treat contaminated plastics here in the UK.”

David Palmer-Jones, CEO of SUEZ recycling and recovery UK:

“Taxation and policy reforms above all should be used to incentivise change and drive innovation starting with design and manufacturer, rather than just focus on consumers when they are sold products wrapped in, or made of single use plastics.

“The success of the plastic bag tax in reducing sharply single use bag usage, shows that the  public is able to shift its behaviour, now is the time to help the public by incentivising the necessary changes. An extended producer responsibility regime should address all forms of  resource usage, materials and packaging production, and their collection, reuse and recycling across the whole supply chain.

“We need a full scale review of the taxation system for packaging that encompasses both plastics, paper, glass and card, including a review of the existing PRN (packaging recovery note) system if we are to achieve a more resource-efficient society and encourage producers to take more responsibility…

“It makes environmental sense to ban some non essential single use plastics such as plastic straws other than for medical purposes or for example helping the elderly. Piece meal bans on a few high profile items will capture the public’s imagination but we need to capitalise on that goodwill by having a broader and deeper review of what is sustainable and what is not, and how tax can encourage a more circular economy.”

Dr Colin Church, chief executive at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM):

“Plastics have many important functions and are part of modern life – but we have to stop using this versatile and highly durable material in single-use applications that squander a valuable resource, contribute to the pollution of our environment and our oceans, and increase the cost to society of managing our waste. is also a wider imperative to consider measures and incentives to reduce all types of waste, and make better use of recovered materials, to benefit the UK economy and the environment.”

Richard Kirkman, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Veolia UK & Ireland:

“Plastic is an important material in its own right that has revolutionised society. Whilst looking into new types of packaging for tomorrow we must at the same time remember that a vast proportion of plastic we already use today is recyclable yet we are not capturing it through the recycling process. Over five billion plastic bottles that can easily be recycled are not even re-entering the supply chain.

“Veolia is committed to investing in infrastructure in the UK to improve plastic recycling rates but we all have our part to play. More plastic needs to be collected, and manufacturers need to use recycled content in their products.

“The good news is we seem to be at a tipping point. With the right policy conditions; manufacturers, consumers and the recycling industry can collectively start a new recycling revolution.”

Jacob Hayler, executive director at the Environmental Services Association:

“The Chancellor today has rightly recognised the scourge of single-use plastics which not only blights our natural environment through littering, but in many cases presents challenges for recycling. ESA has long called for the Government to strengthen producer responsibility to ensure that those who place products and packaging on the market also take greater responsibility for recapturing those materials at the end of their use. Higher taxes or charges for virgin plastics could be part of an overall system which drives the right behaviours across the supply chain by boosting demand for recycled alternatives.

“The call for evidence launched today by the Chancellor in the Spring Statement is therefore highly welcome. It is a strong first step and shows that the Government is taking this issue seriously. We look forward to making our recommendations to the Treasury.”

Rebecca Newsom, Greenpeace UK senior political adviser:

“The success of the plastic bag charge shows that a smart tax on plastic can work, so it’s good to see the Chancellor reconfirm his commitment to look into this. The main problem with single-use plastic is that we produce far too much of it in the first place. That’s why, as well as charges, the government should introduce measures to fundamentally reduce the amount of plastic waste being produced and sold. There should be more pressure on supermarkets and food giants to cut down the amount of throwaway plastic they put in circulation, and it should go hand in hand with a UK-wide deposit-return scheme for all drinks containers that can boost collection rates. The plastic problem is huge, but so is public support for action. This gives Theresa May’s government a unique opportunity to do what it takes to protect our oceans from the threat of plastic waste and set an example for other countries to follow.”

Helen Munday, Chief Scientific Officer, Food and Drink Federation:

“FDF fully recognises that more needs to be done to reduce litter and drive up recycling across all materials, including plastics, and this needs to encompass increasing the capture of used packaging both on-the-go and in the home.

“We therefore welcome the opportunity to contribute to the government’s public consultation process and welcome the launch of the innovation fund to develop the technologies and appropriate approaches to reduce plastic waste.

“It is important that any financial investments be made where they can be most effective in driving change, such as reform of the current UK producer responsibility system for packaging. Additionally, it is vital that these innovations and other actions take full account of the important role of plastics in protecting and preserving food products throughout the food and drink supply chain. Plastics have become an integral part of ensuring food safety and help to prevent and minimise food waste, and those roles must be filled to ensure a safe, affordable, and sustainable food and drink value chain.”

Martin Baxter, IEMA’s Chief Policy Advisor:

“We weren’t bracing ourselves for any huge surprises today, so the fact that air quality and tackling single use plastics are the environmental headlines is arguably reassuring given they are high on the public, news and political agendas. We’re pleased to see investments in critical areas, however the £20m R&D fund promised to businesses and universities to reduce the impact of single use plastics will not stretch far. Future levies which catalyse consumer behaviour change will likely have a more significant impact.

“The call for evidence on the impact on non-agricultural vehicles on urban air quality will be highly relevant to construction.  IEMA will work with environment and sustainability professionals in this sector to respond.

“The focus on training and skills is important, and the proposed roll out of new T Level qualifications is critical in ensuring the UK can bridge the skills gap which currently threatens productivity and resilience – an issue where IEMA has campaigned for action for several years.”

“We were disappointed that the Chancellor didn’t take the opportunity to begin the process of evaluating the potential impact of changes in the UK’s vehicle fleet. The Industrial Strategy places significant emphasis on electric and low-emission vehicles, which has potentially significant impacts on fiscal revenues.  The role of environmental taxation in driving behaviour change is important, government needs to plan over the long-term when such taxation is successful in achieving its objectives.”

Stella Amiss, head of tax policy at PwC:

“The Chancellor’s approach to tackling the plastic problem was by no means a ‘throw away’. The Chancellor is actively looking at how the tax system can play a role in delivering a change in behaviour for better environmental outcomes. With time to consult over the summer, the Government will be in a stronger position to present proposals that we can all buy into at the Autumn budget.”

Jayne Harrold, environmental tax leader at PwC:

“If the tax system is to be used to drive behavioural change, then it’s clear that different measures will be needed at different points in the supply chain. Measures to persuade producers to reduce single-use packaging, to encourage alternative materials, or to design packaging for increased recycling, are very different to those measures that will persuade consumers to either reduce their consumption or reuse single use packaging.

“China’s recent ban on imports of plastic for recycling has increased the scale of the challenge for the industry.  Even the current targets for plastic recycling are likely to be challenging to meet.

“There was also a focus on rapid innovation to create new greener products and services. Some of the money raised from any tax changes will support a £20m business and university fund to research ways to reduce the impact of plastics on the environment. This will go a long way to helping the UK lead the way in using the fourth industrial revolution to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.”