Martin Hyde, the sustainability and public affairs manager at Alupro, is set to begin a 12-month secondment with DEFRA. This transition will position him as the Industry Liaison for the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) focused on food and drink packaging.
Starting in January, Hyde will facilitate collaboration among the packaging industry, DEFRA, the DMO, and various stakeholders. His primary responsibility will be to identify emerging challenges and work closely with the DEFRA DRS team to pinpoint areas requiring Government support for effective advancement.
Hyde is scheduled to return to Alupro in January 2027, where he will resume his leadership role in the team’s public affairs and sustainability initiatives. In his absence, executive director Tom Giddings will oversee operations to ensure continuous support for Alupro members.
In his comments, Hyde stated: “The introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme represents a generational opportunity to change the way we collect and recycle beverage containers in the UK, and is a topic that anyone who knows me will be aware I’m a strong advocate for. While this shift is ultimately good news for the sector, policy change requires careful planning, management, and implementation to deliver maximum benefit.”
“I look forward to collaborating with DEFRA colleagues to unite stakeholders; identifying common barriers, aiding businesses in navigating the complexities of the scheme, and implementing solutions where possible ahead of the 2027 rollout.”
Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, remarked: “I’m delighted that Alupro personnel will be playing a front-line role in the implementation of DRS. Martin is passionate and highly talented, and I believe he’s the perfect choice for this role. I’m very pleased for Martin and even more excited to welcome him back in 2027.”
Emma Bourne, Director of Circular Economy at DEFRA, concluded: “We’re delighted to welcome Martin to the DEFRA DRS team for this secondment. It’s a really exciting time for the project as we move through implementation and progress delivery of the scheme. Martin’s involvement will help us continue to build confidence, reflect a deep understanding across all DRS stakeholders, and facilitate a strong working relationship among delivery partners.”
This secondment is one of many opportunities we will be announcing within the circular economy directorate. This initiative emphasizes the significance of integrating industry expertise and knowledge into our efforts as we work together to achieve a sustainable food and drink packaging system.
For further information about Alupro and its commitment to achieving and exceeding recycling targets for aluminium packaging, visit www.alupro.org.uk.
