RECYCLING OF PACKAGING
It’s no secret that we need to look after our planet, and recent studies have shown that plastic waste still remains one of the most difficult forms of waste to recycle.
Plastic is an amazing invention. Plastic, in some form, has been around since 1600BCE, but the common form of plastic has been around since the late 1850s when the first man-made plastics were developed. Plastic has taken on some massive changes since, with Polypropelene (the most common form of packaging plastic) being discovered in the 1950s.
Plastics offer exceptional barriers and protection of food, they make useful bags, and form a part of almost everything we use on a daily basis. Its a wonderful invention, and it will always continue to be – but we can’t ignore the negative effects that some plastics have on the environment. Some plastics, especially plastics used for bags and packaging, are discarded without any thought of the environment. Their inability to decompose means that they remain for far too long. Some plastics can last thousands of years before they decompose fully – and this is time we cannot afford to waste.
As an independent family bakery, owned and operated by the 3rd generation of family, GH Sheldon Wholesale Bakers understands the importance of our community and environment – both locally and internationally.
We use plastic packaging for our products, as this is the packaging that ensures that the products we make stay as fresh as the day they are made until you eat them. The packaging keeps the product safe, secure and fresh.
Over the years, the world has used more and more plastic, and we need to improve our recycling as a collective. Industry is looking at ways of reducing plastic waste, either by reducing the plastic we use, looking at ways to reuse the plastics we have, or by looking to remove plastic where possible. Where we can’t do any of these things, we are looking at ways to recycle.
As Sheldon’s looks to the future, we are working with our suppliers to look at plastic reduction and increasing recycle-ability where it’s reduction and abolition cannot be immediately met.
A LOCAL PROBLEM
When it comes to plastic recycling, this ultimately comes down to a local problem. Each local authority (council) is responsible for the recycling of domestic waste for all of their constituents. When you put your rubbish into the bin, and it gets collected by the refuse collectors, the council are the ones that work on recycling it.
This makes giving our recycling information for plastic packaging a very difficult task.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to recycling plastics – but there is one bit of advice that we can give that helps everyone; “Check your local recycling.”
CAN I RECYCLE
Finding out if you can recycle packaging is easier than ever before now, thanks to the Recycle Now website. By heading over to their website, you can see if your local authority offers recycling of lots of waste items, and find local collection points too.
All you need to do is visit the website here: https://www.recyclenow.com/local-recycling and they will guide you through finding your local recycling point.
Simply choose “Where to recycle a specific item” followed by “Plastic packaging” and then “Bread bags”. After clicking continue, enter your postcode and you will be greeted with a list of recycling points.
SO, WHAT IS SHELDON’S DOING?
Sheldon’s is working with our suppliers to look at new and innovative ways we can package our products that are better for the environment, and meet the demanding standards of our customers, food safety laws, UK and EU Legislation, and product quality.
We are also looking at how we can influence local communities, or help our customers to lobby to their local councils, to improve recycling facilities – especially for plastics.
