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摘要

Bold, ambitious, large-scale: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has high hopes as it rolls out further funding rounds for projects to improve plastic packaging across the retail supply chain. Plastic packaging continues to feature high on the environmental agenda and the debate is a complex one. Packaging performs many important tasks in protecting and preserving the freshness of products and foodstuffs, and is an integral part of modern society's desire for convenience. At the same time, regular headlines attest to the impact of plastic packaging escaping into the environment. In the past year, Covid-19 has added another layer to this already complex debate about the role and benefits of packaging, as concerns about hygiene and transmission led to an increase in single-use products and packaging in some sectors. At a policy level, new UK-wide frameworks are in the pipeline that will drive significant change. These include Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility, due to be implemented in 2023/24 - which will include a modulated fee mechanism to incentivise resource-efficient and recyclable packaging design - and the Plastic Packaging Tax. Due to come into force in 2022, the tax will drive a significant increase in uptake of recycled plastic content.