Page 33 - Plastics News July 2020

Germany to ban single-use plastic products in WRAP announces UKRI competition Round 2
2021 for plastic waste solution

he German Cabinet agreed to end the sale of ustainability charity WRAP has launched Round 2 of
Sthe UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) competition.
Tsingle-use plastic straws, cotton buds and food
The latest funding was announced during an online
containers from July next year, bringing it in line with a
workshop hosted by Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN)
European Union directive intended to reduce the
and UK Circular Plastics Network (UKCPN). This is part
amount of plastic waste. The move means the sale of
of the UK Circular Plastics Flagship Projects grants
single-use cutlery, plates, stirring sticks and balloon scheme and aims at finding innovative plastic waste
solutions. As part of Round 2, projects that focus on
innovative methods to apply refill infrastructure within
an existing or new supply chain will receive grants
between £50,000 and £150,000.The grant for the
second round is valued at £475,000. The organisation is
looking for projects with strong commercial potential
to reduce the use of single use primary plastic
packaging. WRAP UK director Peter Maddox said: “The
first round of this competition identified innovative
projects that will bring huge benefits in terms of
reducing and recycling plastic waste. “Now we are
concentrating on the crucial role that re-usable and
holders, as well as polystyrene cups and boxes, will be
refillable packaging formats have to play in this
banned from July 3, 2021. Environment Minister Svenja respect. I am excited to see what new solutions will be
Schulze said the decision was part of an effort to move
away from a "throw-away culture." “With today's
cabinet decision, we are taking an important national
step in the fight against the plastic flood. Indeed, up to
20% of trash collected in parks and other public spaces
in Germany consists of single-use plastic, primarily
polystyrene containers. Many single-use plastic
products are superfluous and non-sustainable use of
resources," Schulze said. Germany amassed a record
18.7 million tons of packaging waste in 2017, according
to data published by the Federal Environmental Agency
(UBA). Plastic takes decades to degrade and
created as a result.” The competition is part of the
microscopic particles have been found inside fish,
£20m Plastic Research and Innovation Fund (PRIF) and
birds, and other animals. "Plastics have entered even WRAP is responsible for the delivery. The PRIF is
some of the most remote soil food webs on the planet, managed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences
with potential risks for the whole biota and Research Council (EPSRC) and Innovate UK on behalf of
ecosystems." The German Association of Local Utilities UKRI. During the initial round, a total grant value of
(VKU) estimates common plastic items make up around £920K was awarded for four projects. These are
10 to 20% of waste from parks, public places and expected to be completed this year. Application of
Expression of Interest (EOI) stage for Round 2 is due to
streets with to-go packaging for food and beverages
close on 6 August. In March this year, WRAP launched a
made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) having the
new citizen awareness campaign to combat plastic
largest share.
packaging.

July 2020 33 Plastics News