Hi-Cone welcomes plastic packaging tax
Hi-Cone, manufacturer of minimal multi-packaging solutions for beverages, welcomes Budget 2020’s introduction of the tax on plastic that contains less than 30% recycled material (PCR).
Shawn Welch, vice president and general manager of Hi-Cone, commented: “This is a step in the right direction that will encourage that plastic is seen as the valuable resource it is, moving society closer to a circular economy in which plastic needs never become waste.
“Hi-Cone has already introduced a +50% PCR product which will replace virgin ring carriers globally by the end of the year. However, plastic waste remains a problem: our latest research revealed widespread consumer confusion on recycling. We are doing our best to provide clarifying resources to consumers so they can make informed choices but the industry and governments need to do more to end this crisis.”
The plastic tax will come into force in the UK as of April 2022 and manufacturers and importers will be charged at £200 per tonne for packaging made of less than 30% recycled plastic.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has stated that the tax “will increase the use of recycled plastic in packaging by 40% – equal to carbon savings of nearly 200,000 tonnes.”