OPRL BROCHURE |
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What are the benefits?
Despite steadily improving household recycling rates in recent years the UK is still lagging behind other EU members. The retail sector strongly believes a simple, shared recycling message will help to increase UK recycling rates still further. We wish to work across the supply chain with manufacturers and producers to achieve this.
Many BRC members and their suppliers are committed to reducing their impact on the environment. Sector-wide commitments include the BRC's 'A Better Retailing Climate' and the Food and Drink Federation's 'Fivefold Ambitions'. These comprehensive initiatives include increasing companies’ own recycling together with optimising the amount of packaging and the recycled content of the packaging materials they use. Many retailers and brand owners already have initiatives in place to deliver their own commitments but engaging customers is a particular challenge.
Signing up to this scheme will demonstrate tangibly your business’ commitment to increasing UK recycling rates through communicating a clear recycling message to your customers. As millions of products are already on shop shelves bearing the label, customers will be able to respond easily to the information and will recognise your willingness to act. Ministers and politicians across the UK support the scheme and have welcomed this practical initiative.
As a participant of the scheme you will have access to bespoke technical advice from WRAP as providers of the monitoring and evaluation service. This is an important adjunct to the standard Guidelines for Use which will be particularly beneficial on new and complex packaging components and formats. You will also receive the following services from WRAP as contracted administrators of the scheme:
• six-monthly reports summarising how widely the scheme has been taken up;
• a point of contact for dealing with general queries and complaints relating to the scheme;
• design and implementation advice on the Guidelines for Use.
All scheme participants are involved in the further development of the scheme, alongside other stakeholders such as local authorities and the waste and resources industry.
