UK innovators get US$ 85 million backing to make packaging more sustainable

The UK Government has committed £60 million (US$ 85 million) to fund innovative ways of developing more sustainable forms of packaging and less reliance on single use plastics.

Ministers say ideas could include household food scraps being transformed into plastic bags and cups, or smarter labelling on products to help householders recycle better. The funding, to be bolstered by industry support and delivered by UK Research and Innovation through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, was announced on the first anniversary of the launch of the Government’s new industrial strategy.

Investment is subject to industry providing significant co-funding. Innovators are being challenged to make the UK a world-leader in creating sustainable packaging and to reduce the impact of harmful plastics.

The government says they could help develop: 

• new forms of packaging and plastic – made from farming, food and industrial waste, like sugar beet or food waste – thus moving away from oil-based plastics 
• smart packaging labels and smart bins to tell consumers the right place to put their recycling and revolutionise the way recycling is sorted in waste plants
• ‘live’ sell-by-dates – a living sell-by-date which deteriorates at the same rate as produce to show consumers when their food is going off, thereby cutting food waste alternatives to single use plastics and increased use of recycled plastic in new products

Strategy to boost bio-economy

To mark the investment in sustainable plastic packaging, the Government has also out an ambition for world-leading standards for bio-based and biodegradable plastics, to create new sustainable materials and reduce the impact of plastics on the environment.

Energy and Clean Growth minister Claire Perry said: ‘Finding innovative solutions to tackle our use of harmful plastics which blight our land and seas is a major global challenge, and opportunity – one our nation of researchers and innovators is fit to seize.

‘Today’s funding and sector strategy enhances our position as a global leader on improving our environment and tackling climate change,’ she added. ‘It will make us a beacon for design, manufacturing and exporting of sustainable plastics and environmentally-friendly replacements for polluting products as we move to a greener, cleaner economy – a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy.’