Why the plastics debate needs to focus on avoiding waste

How products are packaged is an increasing brand concern – as plastic waste becomes an ever-hotter topic

Felix Gummer, director, Sancroft, and Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh debate why brands are becoming more fully engaged on packaging and focusing on keeping plastic out of the environment. They discuss how the combination of developments involving environmental concerns, government action and campaigning group focus have made plastic waste such a mainstream issue.

Gummer argues that packaging is becoming an ever-more important part of the product decision for brands, with the challenge to reduce the number of polymers used in packaging so that recycling and reuse become more possible and practical. He explains why avoiding food waste should be a top concern, and outlines why he’s not a fan of deposit return schemes as currently proposed.