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Valpak PackFlow 2023 reports provide valuable insight into UK packaging material trends

Packaging Solutions


Compliance expert Valpak by Reconomy has published its latest update on the quantity of packaging placed on the UK market in 2022.

 

James Skidmore, director of consulting at Valpak, explained that the WRAP commissioned

PackFlow 2023 reports, show that, for most materials, the amount of packaging placed on the market has decreased compared to 2019. He said, ‘As we approach the full implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR), accurate data and baselines are more important than ever. The reports, which are used by UK governments to inform packaging policy, also offer valuable insights into packaging market trends. For example, we can see that since 2011, UK domestic recycling of plastic packaging has increased steadily. In 2021, it exceeded the amount of plastic waste exported for the first time. The reports also show us that, since 2019, the amount of paper packaging placed on the market has increased relative to plastic packaging.’

 

Holding more than 50 million sock keeping units, Valpak’s packaging and product database is the largest packaging data resource in the UK. The suite of six material specific reports make use of this data to assess the state of the market in 2022. In addition to calculating the amount of packaging placed on the market and recycled, it details compliance projections to 2028 which, in preparation for pEPR, are also used by UK governments to inform decisions on business targets.

 

Adam Herriott, senior specialist at WRAP, said: ‘WRAP is proud to have worked with Valpak on the PackFlow 2023 reports. These reports are crucial for government policy making, providing the accurate data needed to shape future packaging regulations. Moreover, they inform much of WRAP's work, including initiatives like the UK Plastics Pact, helping us to drive significant progress in reducing plastic waste and increasing recycling rates. The insights from these reports are essential for understanding market trends and making data driven decisions that support a sustainable future.’



Material specific insights include:

Paper and card

Compared to previous Valpak PackFlow reports in 2019 and 2017, paper and card placed on the market (POM) has reduced. UK domestic recycling declined between 2004 and 2010, with modest increases in the targets being met by export. The overall upward trend in export appears to have stabilised since 2017 (despite increases in the targets), with export tonnages fluctuating since this time in a range between 500,000 to 700,000 tonnes per quarter, and total paper and card recycling in a range of 850,000 to 1,000,000 tonnes per quarter. Paper and card packaging recycling targets have flat lined.

 

Glass

The main driver for total glass packaging recycling is UK domestic recycling. Glass POM is down from 2019 and, since then, the level of glass packaging recycling has risen steadily to meet modest year to year increases in targets. During the past five years, total glass packaging recycling has fluctuated in a range around 350,000 to 500,000 tonnes per quarter. At around 17% of total recycling, on average, the amounts of glass packaging waste exported are small in comparison to UK domestic recycling.

 

Plastic

Plastic POM has fallen since Valpak’s reports in 2019 and 2017. A strong upward trend in the total amount of plastic packaging waste recycled over the period 2004 to 2022 was driven by increases in the recycling targets. With UK domestic plastic packaging recycling static at around 50,000 tonnes per quarter until 2011, export of plastic packaging wastes has played a key role in meeting the targets over much of this period. However, since then, UK recycling of plastic packaging waste has increased steadily and, in 2012, it exceeded the amount of plastic waste exported for the first time.

 

Aluminium

Compared to 2019 and 2017, aluminium packaging placed on the market has increased. While there has been a slight upward trend in UK domestic recycling over the whole sample period, UK domestic recycling does not appear to be trended since around 2012. During the period 2004 to 2015 recycling target increases were largely met by increases in UK domestic recycling of aluminium packaging. Since 2015, the situation has reversed. UK domestic recycling has been broadly static, while the export of waste aluminium packaging has grown rapidly. In 2018, it exceeded UK recycling in 2018, while in 2022, 64% of aluminium packaging waste was exported, mostly to Europe (Germany and Netherlands).

 

Steel

Steel POM has reduced compared to 2019 and 2017. While there was substantial volatility in the amounts of steel packaging waste recycled either in the UK or exported over the period 2004 to 2022, there has been no strong indication of any trends.

 

WoodThe volume of wood packaging placed on the UK market was stable between 2019 and 2022, but higher compared to 2017. Between 2004 and 2008, an upward trend was seen in total recycling; this peaked at an annual tonnage of 940,000 tonnes and was followed by a decline that continued to a low point in 2015. Since 2015, accredited wood packaging recycling has continued to increase despite a drop in 2020. Business targets saw a slow increase between 2004 and 2009, before stagnating until 2017. In 2018, targets saw a dramatic increase to 48% in 2020, before dropping to 35% in 2021 and stagnating.

 

To download the reports in full, please visit:

 

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