The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap, Banbury / UK; www.wrap.org.uk) and UK packaging labelling scheme On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL, Petersborough / UK; www.oprl.org.uk) have announced a strategic partnership setting out how the two organisations will work together towards meeting the UK’s recycling targets.

To achieve packaging recycling targets of 70% by 2030 (the EU’s circular economy packaging waste target) and 70% of plastic packaging by 2025 (the “UK Plastics Pact” target) – see Plasteurope.com of 21.11.2018 – they said the partnership will focus on

• providing consistent messaging on-pack to reduce confusion among consumers in the UK about what can and cannot be recycled,
• improving the quality and quantity of household recycling in the UK and
• improving the quality and quantity of “on the go” recycling in the UK.

Wrap will continue to deliver its “Recycle Now” (www.recyclenow.com) campaign alongside broader recycling messages, while OPRL will remain responsible for on-pack recycling messages. OPRL was launched in 2009 in partnership with Wrap, as well as retailers and food and drink businesses.

While advice on-pack is the most important source of information for citizens on recycling, people also seek information from other trusted sources to support this, said Jane Bevis, chair of OPRL. “Maintaining and developing further the strong links between OPRL’s on-pack messaging, and Wrap’s work through their Recycle Now campaign and local authority communications, remains essential to delivering more and better recycling of packaging,” she added.