Following a meeting in London, the sandwich industry agreed to set up a working group of manufacturers, retailers, packaging and recycling experts. They will investigate how current packaging systems can be better delivered to waste plants capable of recycling them.
One of the first tasks will be to draw up guidelines for the industry covering packaging and waste. The key consideration is the role packaging plays in maintaining shelf life and avoiding excessive food waste.
Jim Winship, director of the British Sandwich & Food to Go Association, said: “Our industry has already done an enormous amount of work developing more eco-friendly packaging. We are totally committed to finding the best possible solutions to packaging but we are also governed by other considerations, particularly the need to ensure that packs fully protect the foods they contain.
“The last thing we want is to create a bigger problem by shortening shelf life and creating more food waste, which has a higher carbon footprint than packaging. There are also moral and ethical issues about creating more food waste.
“Most sandwich packs are now recyclable if they are handled correctly and get into the correct waste streams. We are keen to work with consumers to find ways to make it easier to ensure the packs get recycled.”
The new OPRL (On-Pack Recycling Label) rules reflect the work already done by retailers and manufacturers in the industry, along with 75% of authorities who are now able to recycle lined board sandwich packaging.