Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs in Wales, has acknowledged the industry’s concerns regarding the risks arising from the lack of a unified approach across the UK. This situation could significantly impact food and drink sustainability efforts, as well as sustainable packaging initiatives.
“We have heard clearly from industry that the scenario where a scheme is introduced in the other parts of the UK, with no scheme in place in Wales, carries the greatest risk of operational complexity and associated costs.”
In light of these concerns, she emphasized her commitment to aligning Wales’ implementation timetable with the rest of the UK. This alignment would facilitate interoperability between common materials, ensuring a cohesive approach to food and drink packaging across the regions.
Glass remains included in the scope of the Welsh scheme. Irranca-Davies noted the necessity for clear arrangements to mitigate any ‘unintended consequences’ arising from differing scopes in various regions. Addressing these aspects is crucial for effective food and drink marketing and consumer trends.
“Specifically, industry have highlighted the need for a phased approach within which there would be no requirement to have different labelling and no fraud risk, as this would also prevent consequential impacts on current production and distribution arrangements. This represents a practical and pragmatic solution which we will therefore work to incorporate within the scheme.”
By advancing a scheme that encourages the rollout of reuse, we not only ensure that our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is future-proofed but also deliver tangible benefits for the people of Wales. Furthermore, we will continue to play an essential role in shaping a more coherent and sustainable approach for the entire UK, directly influencing food and drink sustainability practices.
