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Founder of Hubbub and Sizzle Trewin Restorick explains why its time to start treating food and green waste as a valuable resource, not a mess to be disposed of.

The government has announced a new independent expert advisory group to offer guidance on how best to create a circular economy.

It will have plenty to explore with electronics, fashion and packaging likely to grab their immediate attention. But maybe they should look at less discussed and grubbier materials to deliver on their ambitions to create green growth, maximise UK resource use, and support the transition to net zero.

This is the view of fifteen organisations – including the Wildlife Trusts, the Royal Horticultural Society, and Nature Friendly Farming Network – who believe that the UK Government should take a fresh look at the way unavoidable food and green waste is treated with a view to reducing reliance on fertilisers, improving soil quality and cutting emissions.

The UK currently treats food and green waste as a mess to be disposed of rather than a valuable resource. In the first instance, we should be looking to waste as little food as possible, but we could do so much more with what is left over.

Over 80% of household food waste is sent to incineration, landfilled, or flushed into sewers. The remaining 20% is composted or used to produce biomethane in anaerobic digestion plants.

The challenge of handling this waste is about to become more pressing with new legislation in place for weekly collections of household food waste and collections from businesses.

This food waste and other natural by-products can provide millions of tonnes of nutrient-rich compost and fertiliser delivering financial and environmental value.

Boosting organic matter in soil will increase production through improved yields, helping UK food security and enhancing soil quality.

Locally produced quality compost will cut dependence on expensive, imported greenhouse gas-emitting chemical fertilisers saving money for farmers, and supporting the green growth agenda. High-quality green waste can be part of the mix to replace the use of peat in growing.

Creating these multiple benefits will require government to take a fresh look at existing policies requiring different departments to take a more systemic view, which will be essential if ambitions to create a circular economy are to be realised.

This systemic approach will require helping farmers gain access to high-quality and affordable compost. It needs to provide financial support and incentives for local authorities and waste companies to reduce contamination levels in food and biowaste.

It should also consider how best to make natural materials available for composting by reviewing the incentives that currently result in materials, like woodchips, being burnt for energy production.

Finally, it must guarantee that anaerobic digestion (AD) plants employ further processing of the end-product digestate (including dewatering) and promote new joint AD and composting plants (which deploy further composting of solid digestate).

This can ensure that these plants deliver the maximum benefits for soil health from organic waste and don’t create unexpected and negative environmental impacts, such as increased levels of river pollution.

These benefits and the associated policy asks have been created by the Enrich the Earth initiative, led by Sizzle Innovation and funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

Enrich the Earth is a movement of diverse organisations seeking to turn waste into nutrient-rich gold.

The partnership has identified that long-term systemic change can only occur if there is a supportive legislative framework.

This realisation is backed by a growing number of organisations who have put their names behind the policy asks. The challenge is how to bring these requests to the attention of a hard-pressed government.

Our work so far has only confirmed that government policy remains almost completely siloed in this space, meaning that the solutions to these problems are not being effectively implemented.

In short, fertilisers are treated as a farming matter, food waste as a collections issue, and anaerobic digestion as an energy issue.

Different teams across different departments are failing to join the dots to deliver a circular economy for biowaste.

Our hope is that the new Circular Economy Taskforce, which will crucially report to a cross-departmental group of Ministers, will add this to their list of considerations and government will realise the multitude of benefits of getting their hands dirty.

We realise that food and green waste are not the most glamorous of topics but as the adage goes “Where there is muck there’s brass”.

If your organisation wishes to be part of the supporting partnership or you want more details, please email hello@enrichtheearth.co.uk.

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Obligated businesses must submit 2024 packaging data by 1 April 2025 under the new extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme.

Under legislation which came into force on 1 January 2024, large organisations must submit their July-December 2024 data by 1 April.

Small organisations must submit their January-December 2024 data in one annual submission by 1 April.

Both large and small organisations must also register with their environmental regulator by the same date.

If obligated packaging producers have not reported their data or registered, they could face enforcement action.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the data producers provide will be “crucial” in helping to ensure fees are set at an appropriate level.

Defra released the third round of base fees for extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) in January.

Together, we will deliver a fair and collaborative scheme that addresses the challenges of packaging waste…

The first round of pEPR base fees was published in August 2024 and was met with scathing criticism from the glass industry.

Defra published the refined figures once more data had been reported and checked by regulators because of “significant limitations” in the data used to create the original fees.

The updated illustrative base fees are for year 1 of pEPR and relates to fees that would be charged to obligated packaging producers by the Scheme Administrator. The fees are rounded to the nearest £5.

Dr Margaret Bates, head of the UK pEPR scheme administrator PackUK, said the need for an effective pEPR scheme that shifts the cost of managing household packaging waste to producers has “never been more critical”.

“Together, we will deliver a fair and collaborative scheme that addresses the challenges of packaging waste and lays the foundation for a more sustainable and responsible approach to packaging,” Bates said.

Dr Bates, CIWM (Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) President between October 2016 and October 2017, worked as the Managing Director of On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) before she was appointed scheme administrator head.

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Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, explains how the evolution in barcode technology can make packaging supply chains smarter and increase visibility.

It’s a common misconception that circularity simply equals recycling more. Instead, think of the supply chain as a never-ending game of “pass the parcel”.

To achieve a circular fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) economy, we must carefully assess each step, especially the industry’s role in delivering products to consumers and reclaiming them for recycling and recovery. This requires better connectivity and optimisation across the chain.

The FMCG industry must focus its efforts on bridging the gaps between retailers and consumers, and more crucially, recovery facilities. This means not only delivering products but responsibly managing the product’s end-of-life.

Every element of the chain needs to be examined, and that is why even established systems, such as the standard barcode, are being replaced.

The barcode has undoubtedly served us well, but I’m pleased that we’ve finally started looking at new technologies that can provide even more benefits across the entire value chain. As the saying goes, “just because it works, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved”.

Supply chain packaging: Beyond the basics

For decades, the standard barcode has served the FMCG industry as a reliable, albeit limited, tool for product identification. However, as the demands of modern retailers have evolved, so too must packaging and its components.

While it has its benefits, the traditional barcode also has inherent limitations – the use of valuable label space, limited data, and its sole point of sale function – which have restricted its potential.

Enter 2D barcodes that enable traceability and transparency in today’s rapidly evolving world – a game changer for brands and retailers.

Ticking all the boxes, these advanced codes – QR and GS1 Data Matrix codes – unlock new avenues for information sharing, consumer engagement and supply chain visibility, fostering a more informed and connected ecosystem.

The key to a smarter supply chain

Last year, GS1, the global standards organisation, announced Sunrise 2027, the move to implement 2D barcodes at point-of-sale (POS) and point-of-care (POC) systems in the next two years.

Leading brands in the FMCG market are on board, having already marked their commitment. Its recent report, “The Next Generation of Barcodes: QR Codes,” outlines the transformative potential that QR codes have in improving supply chain traceability, enhancing efficiencies, ensuring product safety and delivering valuable information to consumers.

From real-time inventory management to enhanced recall capabilities and personalised consumer experiences, the opportunities are vast. The shift from 1D barcodes is well underway, paving the way for a more data-rich supply chain.

When added to packaging, QR codes enable brands to tap into direct-to-consumer marketing tactics. Beyond streamlining retail operations, they provide a convenient channel to deliver targeted messaging, product details and interactive experiences.

Brands can leverage QR codes to share everything from ingredient provenance and recycling instructions to sustainability initiatives and exclusive loyalty programmes, placing a wealth of valuable information directly into consumers’ hands.

This is especially crucial as packaging becomes smaller, more compact and more sustainable, leaving brands increasingly less room for key messaging and information.

Winning consumer trust

Research supports this shift – there is a clear and growing majority of consumers who recognise and appreciate the effectiveness of QR codes, particularly their significant impact on engagement and marketing return on investment (ROI).

Two-thirds (67%) of consumers stated that connected packaging fosters customer loyalty through personalisation, while 59% said it enhances direct customer communication.

Data also shows engagement is not only earned but sustained with 2D barcodes, and we see this ourselves. Our GS1-approved QR codes increase landing page dwell time by seven times, indicating that consumer interest in new technologies does translate into sustained engagement.

As such, QR codes are being increasingly adopted by brands thanks to solidify their messaging and build lasting relationships.

Strengthening EPR

Looking at the wider picture, to create a truly circular economy, integrating these technologies with the required, supportive legislation is crucial. 2D barcodes provide real-time data, enabling brands to track products with unprecedented accuracy throughout their lifecycle.

However, some policies, such as the current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) criteria, often lack clarity and fail to incorporate such innovations effectively, potentially slowing progress across the supply chain.

If the UK’s EPR programme is to drive real impact, policymakers and the industry must work together closely; 2D barcodes can act as the link between evolving regulatory requirements and the challenges brands face in achieving sustainability goals.

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UK households could make £638 by recycling their unused tech devices, according to new research from Virgin Media O2.

The findings were released to coincide with Global Recycling Day (18 March) and show households are missing out on an average of £638 from recycling their unused tech.

The research estimates 92 million electrical devices – including phones, tablets, smartwatches and gaming consoles – have been thrown in the bin in the last five years, costing the average household £370.

Despite 65% of people saying they understand the environmental impact of throwing electronics in the bin, 79% admit to discarding devices along with their general rubbish.

Research find households are hoarding unused tech

The study also revealed Britain is a nation of hoarders, with 74% saying they’ve held onto unwanted tech for at least five years or more.

However, 81% say they would clear out their tech and recycle unwanted devices if it could earn them cash, while a further 72% would donate their devices to someone in need.

Commenting on the findings, Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2 said: “Most homes have a drawer of doom that’s crammed with dozens of unused devices gathering dust, that could otherwise earn Brits cash or be reused by someone else.

“That’s why Virgin Media O2 is leading the way in tackling e-waste and helping people pass on their unwanted tech to help protect the planet.

“This includes O2 Recycle where Brits can make money for their old electronics, Community Calling where they can donate a smartphone to someone in need or taking a small device to an O2 store where it’ll be sent off for recycling.”

The O2 Recycle scheme is open to anyone regardless of their mobile operator and accepts smartphones, tablets, wearables, earbuds, MacBooks and consoles.

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