IRISH CONSULTATION ON LEVIES FOR COFFEE CUPS, TAKEAWAY FOOD CONTAINERS & FOOD PACKAGING INCLUDING BAKERY As reported in last week’s Digest, the Irish government is consulting on a programme of environmental levies. This begins with coffee cups in 2020/21 followed by all takeaway packaging in Read More
DRAFT BAN PUBLISHED FOR STRAWS, STIRRERS & COTTON BUDS Defra last week published draft legislation to ban plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, with the legislation due to come into force across England in April 2020 although there is another year for straws attached to beverage Read More
FPA CHALLENGES IRISH USE OF ‘BIODEGRADABLE’ The FPA has challenged the use of the term ‘biodegradable’ in relation to single use plastic in the proposed Harmful Plastics Prohibition Bill debated recently in the Irish Dáil, with a statement issued to Irish and UK media. We questioned the Read More
ENVIRONMENT BILL The Environment Bill was published as anticipated in the Queen’s Speech last Tuesday. The FPA was asked for comment by a number of media and Martin made the following statement: “There are many positive proposals in the Bill but in aiming to improve our Read More
CMO STATEMENT ON TAKEAWAY FOOD Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies’ much anticipated statement on takeaway food was published last week, with media headlines such as ‘Ban Snacking on Public Transport’. While media believe there is little likelihood of imminent legislation, we should see Dame Read More
SCOTTISH CUP CHARGE UPDATE FPA members Neil Whittall (Huhtamaki UK) and Adrian Pratt (Benders Paper Cups) together with Paul Rhodes (Greggs), Ollie Rosevear (Costa) and Martin attended a meeting in Edinburgh last week with Scottish government to discuss the proposal to apply a levy or Read More
BETH HART AT THE FPA LUNCH Some 120 FPA members and their guests had the privilege of hearing a powerful address from Beth Hart who demonstrated McDonald’s commitment to business reinvention be it environment, restaurant logistics or packaging. Despite its huge size, McDonald’s consistently innovates, Read More
DEFRA RESOURCE & WASTE STRATEGY STAKEHOLDER GROUP As announced previously and ahead of the official announcement, Rebecca Pow has been confirmed as Minister with responsibility for resource and waste. The recent Defra Resource and Waste Strategy stakeholder group session was a lively forum discussing key Read More
ALL CHANGE AT DEFRA In the latest reshuffle following Amber Rudd’s resignation, Therese Coffey, the Minister responsible for resources and waste management, was promoted to the Cabinet as Work & Pensions Secretary. Rebecca Pow MP has been appointed to Defra as a Parliamentary Under Secretary Read More
PROPOSED SCOTTISH CIRCULAR ECONOMY BILL PAVES WAY FOR CUP CHARGES Nicola Sturgeon announced last Wednesday that combating climate change will be the centrepiece of the Scottish government’s forthcoming legislative programme, which includes a Circular Economy Bill which, amongst other things, will enable charges to be Read More