Wrap predicts ‘broader’ view of packaging

A set of four priorities for the group, whose creation was first announced in March in a bid to reduce confusion over where businesses should turn for help on improving their environmental impact, were given the green light yesterday by environment minister Hilary Benn.

While energy from waste, developing markets for recycled materials and encouraging sustainable design are all stated in the aims, there was no direct reference to packaging in the stated aims.

Wrap’s head of retail Richard Swannell told Packaging News that while packaging remained a key focus, the group would aim its focus on overall resource efficiency across all the areas covered by the seven bodies.

The four stated priorities for the new group, which covers projects in England but not in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, are:

- Minimising waste and resource use and developing sustainable design
- Offering practical advice and guidance to help businesses become resource efficient
- Developing markets for recovered, recycled and remanufactured materials and energy from waste
- Working with local authorities to reduce waste sent to landfill

Swannell said: “Packaging is absolutely integral to all four priorities. But we will take a broader approach to packaging. Optimisation is at the top of the agenda, but we will have a significantly broader remit.”

Wrap also launched a procurement process yesterday to find consultants who will help deliver the merging of the seven organisations’ activities.

However, Swannell said that Wrap would continue to concentrate on its waste minimisation activities in the retail and construction sectors and that the new organisation would not directly affect projects in those areas, notably the Courtauld Commitment.

On the possibility of encouraging more energy from waste plants beyond the existing focus on anaerobic digestion, Swannell said: “Our principal area is that we want to deliver the best environmental outcome. Anaerobic digestion is going on a lot. On other types of energy from waste, we’ve always entered into the debate but it’s clear that this is now in our remit.”

The unified resource efficiency group will begin operating in England at around the time of the coming general election. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have promised a wide-ranging review of the role of quangos such as Wrap and Envirowise.

Swannell would not be drawn on the prospects for Wrap under a Tory government but said: “The key thing is to be all about business as usual and it’s all about delivering value for money for the taxpayer.”

MEMBERS OF THE UNIFIED RESOURCE BODY

Wrap
The National Industrial Symbiosis Programme
Envirowise
The Centre for Renaming and Reuse
Construction Resources and Waste Platform
Action Sustainability
Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (Brew) centre for local authorities

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