This year the government took another substantial step towards tackling plastic pollution, on the January 2023 the United Kingdom’s Government announced a new ban and further restrictions on a range of polluting single-use plastics. As of the 1st October no business in England is permitted to sell single-use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene cups or polystyrene food containers. Furthermore, a restriction was placed upon the supply of single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls.
This new ban continues on from the 2020 ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds and is created to complement the novel environmental legislation, The Environment Act 2021.
The use of single-use plastics has a huge detriment to our environment, our greenhouse gas emission, water pollution and the health and wellbeing of our wildlife. It can take hundreds of years to break down a single piece of plastic and research shows that people across England use over 3.4 billion pieces of single-use cutlery and plates every single year, with only 10% ever being recycled.
What does it mean for you?
As a consumer, this ban will does not directly affect your choices or your purchases but it does present as an excellent impetus for individual improvements towards to collectively act towards a greater good. Here are some of the ways it will impact individuals:
- Sustainable Behaviour
The ban serves as a catalyst for individuals to adopt for sustainable behaviours. The new ban will encourage the use of reusable and sustainable items, such as travel mugs, water bottles and biodegradable or reusable cutlery.
- Public Awareness
Similar to the carrier bag fee and the ban on plastic straws, this new ban will further bring the war on plastic to the forefront of public consciousness. It will encourage consumers and individuals to become more aware and more informed on the consequences of plastic waste.
- Reduced Waste
The ban will directly contribute to a decrease in plastic waste. The ban will lead to individuals opting for sustainable products and eco-friendly behaviours, which will result in less plastic litter in the environment, less strain on landfill and less demand for the petroleum-based plastic production.
We can see evidence of the success of plastic bans in the carrier bag charge. While the original carrier bag charge initiative caused some discontent among the public, it has seen the annual usage of carrier bags in the UK fall by 97%. As a result of the charge, the average person buys around three single use carrier bags per year, compared to 140 bags per year in 2014.
What does it mean for your business?
As businesses, particularly those involved in the food industry, this will mean the complete eradication of many single-use plastic items and the restriction on use of polystyrene items. As businesses you will ultimately be faced with three options:
- Stop providing these items all together and place the burden on your consumers, such as bringing your own cultery and takeaway boxes
- Provide reusable alternatives at a cost to the consumer, an example of this is the reusable mugs sold in coffee shops
- Invest in sustainable alternatives, this could be biodegradable cultery and plastes.
Beyond the changing of these items, this new ban has other implications and benefits for businesses, including:
- Innovative Solutions
The ban will present businesses with an opportunity to innovate and develop alternative, eco-friendly products. Companies that can offer sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics will have the opportunity to be at the forefront of sustainable development and tap into a grown market of environmentally conscious consumers.
- Improved Reputation
The shift towards environmentalism is not a passing trend, but here to stay and has become an expectation from customers. Businesses that take proactive steps to reduce their carbon footprint, sustainability and environmental behaviour are likely to gain a positive repuation and increased customer loyalty. With the new B-Corp Certification recognising sustainable businesses, consumers are actively choosing companies based on their ESG behaviours.
- Cost Reduction
Moving away from single-use plastics will lead to cost savings for businesses in the long run. Like many investments, there will be an initial cost involves in moving towards sustainable alternatives but long term this will translate into financial gains, including reduced waste disposal costs, avoidance non-compliance fines and potentially even production costs.
- Legal Compliance
Compliance with the ban on single-use plastics is not on an opt in bases. It is a legal requirement and failure to adhere to these regulations will result in penalties, fines and reputational damage. Therefor it is in the best interest of the company to stay in line with the law and take positive steps towards minimising their environmental impact.
- Increase Investment Opportunity
Lastly and perhaps most importantly to the board of directors and the shareholders, sustainability brings it’s own increased investment opportunity, both external and internal investing. This creates an opportunity for companies to place investment into the development of sustainable products and into other sustainable companies as well as an opportunity to tap into the market of sustainable investors. Currently the sustainable and ESG investor circles are exponentially growing. Investors are actively seeking out companies who have strong ESG and sustainable practices with many investment platforms even scoring your ESG practices and shortlisting sustainable companies.
Ultimately, businesses can look at this new ban as a pain in the backside or an exciting opportunity to develop their business and to be on the forefront of change. Whatever your view, this ban is a cannon event and there will be more and more bans to come on this matter. Take the opportunity now to ride the wave.
Written by Monique Crouch LLB LLM GCILEx GradCG
